EAST MILLINOCKET — The Katahdin Higher Education Center, a campus of Eastern Maine Community College, has received a $10,000 Movement Grant from the Quimby Family Foundation to support its Story Trail initiative in East Millinocket.
The competitive grant was awarded as part of the foundation’s 2026 funding cycle, which received 157 requests totaling $2.3 million. The foundation distributed $710,000 in grants statewide.
The Cultural Story Trail project combines literacy, outdoor recreation and community engagement by installing interpretive signage along a walking path, encouraging families to read, learn about Penobscot culture and explore nature at the same time. The grant will support the continued development and expansion of the trail, increasing access to place-based learning opportunities for residents and visitors in the Katahdin region.
“This investment strengthens our ability to create welcoming, accessible learning spaces beyond classroom walls,” said Deb Rountree, executive director of Rural Development Initiatives. “The Story Trail reflects our commitment to literacy, wellness and community connection in rural Maine.”
The Quimby Family Foundation’s Movement Grants support organizations working to build more equitable, connected and active communities, with particular emphasis on relationships between people and the natural world.
Grant funding is expected to be received in the coming weeks.
