New program to help Maine woods tourism businesses

GREENVILLE — The Northern Forest Center and partners have launched a new program to help tourism providers implement innovations that will strengthen their businesses, expand job opportunities and attract visitors to the Maine Woods.

Over five years, the Tourism Innovation Program expects to support approximately 15 qualified businesses with assistance ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 each to hire top consultants to develop and implement business innovations ranging from software and facility improvements to new product development.

During the initial phase of the project, financial assistance is available for lodging businesses, guide services and outfitters that help visitors enjoy the Maine Woods in the Moosehead Lake and Katahdin Iron Works regions.

“We want to help business owners transform their operations by tapping into specialized skills and expertise from across the state or across the country — ultimately bringing their business to the forefront of the highly competitive destination travel market,” said Mike Wilson, senior program director for the Northern Forest Center.

Preference for financial assistance will be given to businesses located in towns near Moosehead Lake and the gateways to the Katahdin Iron Works area. Target communities include Beaver Cove, Greenville, Rockwood, Shirley, Monson, Abbot, Bowerbank, Willimantic, Sebec, Milo and Brownville. Preference also will be given to businesses in unorganized territories near the Appalachian Mountain Club’s (AMC’s) conservation and recreation land in the 100-Mile Wilderness region. As the project evolves, eligibility may be expanded to other types of tourism businesses, such as restaurants and retailers.

Funding for the Tourism Innovation Program is made possible through financing secured by AMC and facilitated by the Center to support AMC’s Maine Woods Initiative. The Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation (MHIC) and JP Morgan Chase provided capital and tax credit authority for the federal New Markets Tax Credit financing, which enables AMC and the Center to invest in a range of projects and programs that support the Maine Woods economy and provide other community benefits. A grant from Plum Creek Foundation provided further support.

“Through our Maine Woods Initiative, AMC continues to seek ways in which our conservation and recreation lands, trails, lodges and programs can help build stronger and healthier communities. We are pleased to be working with the Center on this new program that benefits the region’s nature-based tourism businesses,” said AMC Senior Vice President Walter Graff. “These businesses are key to attracting new and returning visitors to the area by providing new opportunities for outdoor recreation and connecting people to this iconic landscape.”

The primary purpose of the financial support is to enable businesses to work with consultants to develop innovative strategies that strengthen the business. If a consultant recommends a capital investment, the financial assistance can also be used toward that expense. All financial assistance must be matched by each business’s own investment in their project. The Center, AMC, the Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corporation, the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council and MHIC are working together to implement the Tourism Innovation Program.

“Pairing support for local businesses with AMC’s expansion made this investment compelling for MHIC,” said MHIC President and CEO Joseph Flatley. “Our goal is to help create better economic opportunities for area residents while respecting local priorities. We are grateful for the chance to work with such outstanding local partners.”

The project partners encourage creative initiatives and expect many of the investments to fall into three high-priority opportunities for improvement: market development and customer management, new product development and facility improvements. Projects could include website and social media marketing and online reservation systems; new product development such as lodging and experiential packages; and upgrades such as renewable energy systems, including high-efficiency wood pellet boilers and other improvements.

“We want to work with local businesses to develop strategic projects that bring them real benefits and contribute to the quality of experience available to visitors,” Wilson said. “We’ll also need to make sure that the businesses we invest in have the financial and management capacity needed for successful innovation.”

Full program information can be found at https://northernforest.org/programs/tourism/tourism-innovation.

“This is a terrific opportunity for tourism providers in the Moosehead Lake and Katahdin Iron Works regions to implement recommendations to improve local visitor experiences,” said Luke Muzzy, president of the Moosehead Lake Regional Economic Development Corporation (MLREDC). MLREDC recently concluded a branding initiative led by Roger Brooks International that included recommendations for supporting local businesses and improving visitor access to outdoor recreational resources.

Funding decisions will be based on factors including readiness and the potential of the innovation to improve business performance and create, stabilize or upgrade jobs. Other considerations will include the businesses’ commitment to innovation, the scope of the project and how closely the business is linked to the region’s forests, lakes and rivers. Funding decisions are at the discretion of the Center and MHIC with advisory input from local partners.