CARIBOU – Economic development in Aroostook County received a boost Monday morning thanks to an infusion of cash from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development branch.

USDA Rural Development State Director Michael W. Aube joined officials from the Northern Maine Development Commission, the Northern Maine Empowerment Council and representatives from the state’s congressional delegation in accepting $366,599 to benefit the Aroostook County Empowerment Zone.

Ryan Pelletier, the town manager in St. Agatha and NMDC’s chairman, said Monday that the funds will allow NMDC to assist the Aroostook Partnership for Progress and benefit economic and community development in the region.

“The Empowerment Zone program has been a great program for our area,” he said. “We will use the money for continued economic development projects, so it is a great tool to have in our economic development toolbox.”

The Empowerment Zone program was created by the federal government in the early 1990s to help distressed communities by providing opportunities for growth and revitalization.

Communities designated as part of an Empowerment Zone can apply for grants and low-interest loans and can receive a wealth of federal tax benefits along with technical assistance provided through USDA Rural Development.

More than six years ago, parts of Aroostook County were designated as the Aroostook County Empowerment Zone. The ACEZ is one of only 10 rural empowerment zones in the country, and one of only two that are based on population loss.

Initiatives and projects of the Empowerment Zone are led by the Aroostook Partnership for Progress.

The APP was created in June 2004 as a result of the Empowerment Zone designation and an ensuing Rural Empowerment Summit in 2003.

The APP is a regional public-private initiative that works with its partners to market the region nationally and internationally. The partnership works to enhance northern Maine’s economy by increasing business and investment activity, attracting jobs, reversing out-migration trends and setting its sights on increased economic development accountability and leadership.

Since 2004, the partnership has attracted approximately 1,000 new jobs and $140 million in investment into the region.

jlbdn@ainop.com

532-9257