AUGUSTA – A plan to create a new “We Support Our Troops” specialty license plate to help raise money for the families of those serving overseas moved one step closer to approval this week.

At least 2,000 Maine drivers must sign up for the specialty plate as part of the approval process. State Rep. Don Pilon, D-Saco, who proposed the plate, said Thursday that the sign-up goal was reached this week when Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap certified 2,068 valid signatures gathered throughout the last year.

The next step in the approval process calls for Pilon to raise $40,000 and submit it to the Secretary of State’s Office by Sept. 1. The funds will pay for the manufacture of the first 2,000 pairs of plates.

Pilon said the plate could be sold to Mainers who want to show support publicly for those serving overseas. Part of the registration fee would be directed to a trust fund that the Maine Army National Guard would use to help the families.

The plate is modeled after the traditional chickadee plate. Instead of the chickadee, a graphic of the state with a yellow ribbon would be superimposed. On the bottom, “We Support Our Troops” would be printed instead of “Vacationland.”