Caribou– The Maine Development Foundation (MDF), during its annual meeting, announced that the Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) and the Aroostook Partnership for Progress (APP) are one of four recipients of MDF’s 2006 Champions for Economic Development Award.  

    “NMDC and APP were selected for their outstanding efforts to promote economic development in northern Maine. The partnership that they have formed has led to a new and innovative approach to economic development,” said Laurie Lachance, president and CEO of the Maine Development Foundation.  “Together, NMDC and APP have formed a powerful and effective partnership to catalyze the economic development of Maine’s vast northernmost county,” she added. 

    “We are quite pleased with the award,” said Kris Doody-Chabre, chairperson of APP and Robert P. Clark, executive director of NMDC. 

    “To have our efforts recognized by the Maine Development Foundation is a testament to the vision established by our Board of Directors which set the course for the public and private sectors to work together for the benefit of all of Aroostook County. 

    “We recognized early on that we have to look at new ways to conduct economic development activities and the award indicates that we’re heading in the right direction,” said Clark.

    The Maine Development Foundation is the oldest and one of the most successful statewide public-private partnerships in the nation. MDF was created by the governor and legislature in 1978 as a private, non-profit corporation with a broad mandate to promote Maine's economy. MDF stimulates new ideas, develops leaders, and provides common ground for solving problems and advancing issues

    For NMDC or Partnership information call 207-498-8736 or e-mail at welish@APPme.org