CARIBOU – The Northern Maine Empowerment Council is seeking three new members to guide the Aroostook County Empowerment Zone program.

The NMEC is a group of community members who oversee the Aroostook County Empowerment Zone program, as well as the Northern Maine Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. The council members represent different sectors of the community to ensure balance in strategic planning for the region.

Seats available are in the categories of disabled, elderly, low income and youth. It is important that the representative qualifies as a member of one or more of these sectors to build the necessary diversity of the council. Applicants must be able to regularly attend monthly meetings at varying locations across northern Maine.

The Empowerment Zone program is a federal program designed to aid distressed communities that are suffering from poverty and-or out-migration. The program centers on a strategic plan developed to address the strengths and weaknesses of the area.

Individuals interested in applying for one of the seats should contact Northern Maine Development Commission, the lead agency for the program, at (800) 427-8736 for an application.

The deadline to return the applications is 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27. New members will be elected during an open meeting in early October.