APP board identifies information technology, renewable energy as promising sectors

    CARIBOU – Another significant step was taken Friday in the ongoing Mobilize Maine strategic regional planning process for northern Maine. At their regular monthly meeting, the Aroostook Partnership for Progress (APP) board of directors moved to the industry cluster analysis stage with their decision to select the information technology and renewable energy industries as the two sectors to receive detailed value chain asset mapping.     This decision followed a review of information generated at three listening sessions held in the northern, central and southern parts of Aroostook County over the past weeks to map local resources that give the region a competitive advantage. Based on this, and additional information from VitalEconomy, the consulting team hired to assist with the Mobilize process, the APP Board concluded that these industries offer the best opportunity to generate economic opportunity in the short- and long-term by addressing the regional 2015 goals put established at the Discovery phase meeting held last month.
    According to Chris Anderson, chair of the APP board, the information generated from the four county-wide indigenous asset mapping sessions and the analysis by the APP Mobilize Maine Ad Hoc committee provided the APP board with valuable information that assisted them in making their decision.
    “In addition to these two industries, we also will be mapping the agriculture industry and establishing action teams to look at some of the other unique assets identified during the indigenous mapping sessions” said Anderson.
    APP is a regional public-private organization that works with its partners to market the region nationally and internationally, conduct regional research, and coordinate efforts to influence business and government issues that impact economic growth and development.
    For more information contact Walter Elish, APP executive director, at 498-8731 or e-mail him at welish@APPme.org.