Collins, Poliquin announce federal efforts to stimulate growth in Maine’s forest products industry

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) recently announced that the Economic Development Assessment Team (EDAT) would be deployed to stimulate growth in Maine’s forest products industry.

EDAT, an integrated, multi-agency team, will deploy to Maine to create economic development strategies to grow the state’s forest economy in response to the closure of numerous mills in recent years.

Collins, Poliquin and U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-ME) also announced a total of $7.7 million in federal grants to support Maine’s forest products industry during a press conference held at the University of Maine.

“The forest products industry is a cornerstone of Maine’s economy, and just as it has been a defining part of our heritage, it will continue to be a vital part of our future too,” Collins, Poliquin and King said in a joint statement. “We are pleased that the Economic Development Assessment Team will be coming to Maine (in August), and we look forward to them working closely with the men and women who know our forests best to chart a roadmap to renewed economic growth. Many of these grants will play a helpful role in fostering that growth and we applaud the recipients who will transform funding into innovative strategies and tools that will form the foundation of a world-class, 21st century forest economy in Maine.”

EDAT will provide a $4.4 million grant to support innovation and manufacturing, while the Department of Defense will award a $3.3 million grant to the University of Maine Bioproducts Research Institute to research the conversion of wood to jet fuel.