COURTESY OF MAINE AQUACULTURE INNOVATION CENTER
Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center (MAIC) and partners have been awarded $484,447 by the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) to catalyze aquaculture in Washington County. The grant is matched with a further $140,912 investment, and will support a grassroots program with a broad range of business support and workforce development initiatives.
In the past, Mainers in the Downeast region have built an economy on natural resources, such as lobster, herring, lumber, and wild blueberries. With some of these industries shifting as a result of a changing climate, Mainers in Washington County communities are now turning their resourcefulness and entrepreneurial spirit to a new industry of opportunity: aquaculture.
With this new grant from the NBRC, MAIC in collaboration with experienced aquaculture, education, and business development partners will work with Washington County businesses to support the development of a robust and sustainable aquaculture sector. Partner organizations include Sunrise County Economic Council (SCEC), Maine Center for Entrepreneurs (MCE), and The Downeast Institute (DEI). Project efforts will be concentrated in three community nodes for maximum impact: Eastport-Sipayik, Jonesport-Machias, and Milbridge-Steuben.
The program supported by this NBRC grant is designed to catalyze both existing aquaculture businesses that are ready to scale up and start-up aquaculture businesses that are ready to launch. Participating businesses will receive intensive wrap-around support, including access to business incubation, technology translation, market development, and funding. These businesses can also receive stipends to support high school student work placements and apprenticeships. Simultaneously, partners will work with communities to identify community-specific infrastructure needs (e.g. gear, cold storage, distribution hubs) and to provide training opportunities for future workforce.
The workforce development aspects of this project will leverage existing funding and build on two existing initiatives: (1) a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (ARFI) funded project to develop and pilot the new Aquaculture Technology Program at Washington County Community College and (2) a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) award to consolidate community college seafood workforce training across Washington County and Southern Maine Community Colleges. This foundational work will form the basis for the novel programming funded by the NBRC to create and expand workforce pipelines — from Washington County high schools to community college training programs to workforce placements in the aquaculture field.
In partnership with Jobs for Maine Graduates and schools in Washington County, opportunities are being created for youth in the Downeast Maine aquaculture sector. High school students can participate in a class to explore careers in aquaculture, which includes field trips to and hands-on experiences with Washington County aquaculture businesses. A recent student participant in the pilot phase of the Aquaculture Technology Program highlighted the success of the initiative saying, “This program not only offers knowledge but great networking opportunities with those in the know. I’d highly recommend it for anyone who wants to pursue an aquaculture venture or is simply curious about it.”
To find out more about this program and/or be involved with the exciting opportunities aquaculture presents to Washington County, reach out by email to [email protected].
