Thirty years ago the Eastern Maine Development District began its life as a funnel for federal grants to this region. Its growth since then has been impressive, and its service to the wide range of interests in this part of the state make its current incarnation more important than ever.

Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Economic Development Act (EDA) funding, Urban Development Action Grants (UDAG) and the rest of the federal alphabet soup of money sources were EMDD’s specialty. The district arranged for millions of dollars for Maine projects such as airport terminals, civic centers, libraries, industrial parks and sewer projects. When the federasl government began changing the way it distributed money, starting in 1981, EMDD also changed, becoming Eastern Maine Development Corp. and making its executive director, Michael Aube, its president.

Mr. Aube, who served as president for 11 years, recently observed that EMDC’s greatest strength these days is its ability to bring together communities, private industry and the federal government and provide a way for those three entities to take advantage of local opportunities. This change turned EMDC from a passive arranger of funding to an active part of the development process.

Current President David Cole has moved EMDC even further along this line. By stressing international trade and more sophisticated technologies, he is placing EMDC in a position to anticipate trends in development and guide the region toward furture successes. These changes make Eastern Maine more competitive with the rest of the world.

The results of EMDC’s work can be seen throughout the six counties — Washington, Piscataquis, Waldo, Knox, Hancock and Penobscot — it supports. EMDC has helped locate or expand companies such as Lemforder, Brewer Automotive Components, Olamon Industries, Earthgro and Guilford of Maine. It has helped support the wood-composites research facility at the University of Maine, the Eastport pier and Atlantic salmon farming.

Bigger challenges lie ahead. If the proposed East-West highway is to be successful, for instance, it will need the support and expertise of EMDC. More generally, if this region is to reverse population trends and the economic drain south, it must turn to its trusted development partner: Eastern Maine Development Corp.