Bangor

Energy management

Public, private and nonprofit leaders have unveiled a statewide initiative to help Maine companies become more competitive in the global economy and to improve profits through energy efficiency, energy management and conservation.

A workshop, sponsored by the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Maine Industries of the Future, Maine’s Industrial Efficiency Partnership, the Maine Technical College System and Efficiency Maine, will be held 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, June 13, at Eastern Maine Technical College.

Dr. Scott Dunning, associate professor of electrical engineering and executive director of the Advanced Manufacturing Center at the University of Maine, will lead the workshop.

The in-house energy audit will utilize a computer program developed under Dunning’s supervision and written by Dr. Bruce Segee and Evan Chowdhury at UM.

The cost of the workshop is $35 and includes materials and lunch. To register, call 775-1200 or visit www.mainiof.org. To learn more about Maine MEP, call (800) 637-4634.

Technology funding

BANGOR – The Maine Technology Institute has awarded 26 Seed Grants and four Development Awards to Maine businesses in its latest round of funding, said MTI Director Dr. Janet Yancey-Wrona.

“In this round of awards, we approved 30 projects for more than $1 million, with over $237,000 for Seed Grants and $768,000 in funds for Development Awards,” she said. “The MTI funds are matched with over $1.5 million from the winning companies, which is a positive indicator of the level of high-tech investment and development happening here in our state.”

The Seed Grant awards, which can be from $1,000 up to $10,000, are offered to Maine companies six times per year, while Development Awards can be up to $500,000 and are offered twice a year.

Several local companies received Seed Grant awards:

. The University of Maine’s Process Development Center at Orono will develop a new retention technology for the acid papermaking process.

. Pell Innovations of Orono will continue the development of the RevBow.

. Spill Free Oil Drainage Products LLC of Bangor will prepare an EPA SBIR Phase I proposal for development of a new product to enable spill-free draining of oil filters.

. Transpose LLC of Bangor will develop a Phase II SBIR proposal for predictive mathematical software solutions.

. Talon Industries LLC of Hampden will file for patent protection, advance the design and analyze the manufacturing costs of a game-recovery system for bow hunters.

MTI Seed Grants are offered on a competitive basis to support early activities for product development, commercialization or business planning and development. Grants require a one-to-one match of cash, salaries, staff time or equipment directly attributable to the proposed project.

MTI Development Awards fund $10,000 to $500,000 per project for comprehensive research and development activities. They also require a match.

Repayment of up to two times the amount of the award is required when the new product or service developed with MTI funding is commercialized.

The application deadlines for the next set of awards are June 19 for Seed Grants and July 7 for Development Awards. More information about MTI’s award programs is available at www.mainetechnology.org.

Professional certification

Lenwood Ryan, customer service manager at Carquest Paint Store, has received the designation of Carquest PBE Professional from the national headquarters in Raleigh, N.C.

The designation recognizes the advanced customer service excellence and enhanced technical knowledge of Carquest associates. Ryan has worked in the automotive market for more than 10 years and has managed the Carquest Paint Store since 1997. Located at 317 Main St., the store supplies auto parts, tools and equipment to do-it-yourselfers and professional collision technicians.

Additional jet flight

Bangor International Airport announced that Northwest Airlines will add an additional flight between Bangor and Detroit beginning July 1. The flight complements the twice-daily new jet service that begins June 6. The additional flight is in response to larger-than-expected advance bookings.

Bangor Mayor Nichi Farnham said, “The city of Bangor is delighted to welcome additional jet service to our community and region. We are especially grateful for the help of our congressional delegation and governor, who have been instrumental in bringing this about.”

Bangor International Airport offers flights to Boston, Cincinnati, Detroit, Orlando, Albany, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Portsmouth and Manchester, N.H.

Program for farmers

Farmers have until June 2 to sing up for the Direct and Counter-cyclical Program at the Penobscot County Farm Service Agency office.

Applications will be accepted after the deadline, but there will be a $100 late fee.

DCP is the new commodity program featured in the 2002 farm bill.

It provides guaranteed direct payments to farmers with an established history of planting corn, wheat, barley, oats and oilseed.

Payments are issued to ensure a stable and affordable food supply.

During depressed market periods, farmers are eligible to receive a counter cyclical payment to help offset declining prices, but payments are not guaranteed.

To obtain information, call 947-3555, Ext. 2, or visit www.fsa.usda.gov.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin