Press Release

U.S. EDA Grant Aids Maine's Secondary Wood Materials Manufacturing Sector to Create Jobs

July 23, 2010
Contact: John Atwood, (202) 482-4085

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced a $50,000 grant to the Northern Maine Development Commission of Caribou, Maine to study the feasibility of creating new secondary wood products from materials left over from Maine's primary wood products industries.

"The manufacturing sector is vital to our nation's economic competitiveness," said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John R. Fernandez. "This EDA grant will help wood manufacturers in Northern Maine study ways to boost productivity to increase revenues and create new jobs."

"This EDA grant will allow us to investigate the use of materials left over from primary wood products manufacturing in the production of new secondary products. If feasible, this effort could result in a significant number of new manufacturing jobs in the region," said Robert Clark, Executive Director of the Northern Maine Development Commission.

Potential products to be studied include pre-manufactured housing, wood fuel pellets and other wood bio-fuels. This project will provide the data necessary to establish significant secondary wood products manufacturing operations and high quality jobs in Northern Maine.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov): This year, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) marks 45 years of public service, with a mission of leading the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that partners with distressed communities throughout the United States to foster job creation, collaboration and innovation.