Androscoggin Valley-Mahoosuc Region Pilot

The Center and its partners in the Northern Forest Investment Zone are focusing resources in the 600,000-acre Androscoggin Valley - Mahoosuc region on the Maine-New Hampshire border as a pilot site for the integrated development of forest income streams and related capacity building.

Investment Zone partners are working with landowners, businesses and organizations in the Androscoggin-Mahoosuc region to identify opportunities for creating new income from the forest--particularly when multiple projects can bring greater benefits by working in tandem.  Following are the 5 categories through which the Investment Zone seeks to generate income for landowners and communities:

Resource-Based Development Strategies

Advancing Community-scale Biomass Energy

Purpose: advance the development of “community scale” thermal energy facilities (e.g. wood-fired school boilers, small district heating systems) in order to shift dependence from oil to local, renewable and sustainable low-grade wood.

Goal: Support the installation of one to two biomass energy generation facilities in the next three years.

Developing Ecosystem Services Market Opportunities for Forest Landowners

Purpose: help landowners access emerging markets and trading platforms that will provide income from the carbon sequestration and/or watershed services their lands provide.

Goal: engage one to two landowners (or aggregated group of landowners) to assist in the development of ecosystem services projects for registration (and hopefully, sale) in relevant markets.

Catalyzing Innovation in Wood Products Manufacturing

Purpose: enhance economic competitiveness and create and sustain jobs in the wood products manufacturing industry through promotion, training, and implementation of specific business innovations.

Goal: produce an updated inventory of Mahoosuc area wood product businesses, and assist one or more companies in the region in implementing specific business innovations.

Enhancing the Quality of Tourism Sector Jobs

Purpose: enhance the quality of tourism jobs and visitor experiences through workforce development, product development, research and branding services.
Goal: coordinate with the Maine Woods Consortium to deliver network-based workforce training, product development, research and branding services to 15 tourism businesses.

Expanding and Using Community Forests for Community Benefit

Purpose: provide alternative public ownership models that further community participation, community benefit, and permanent conservation.

Goal: develop and conduct community forest workshops to build understanding and support for the community forest model, and work with communities and landowners to initiate the creation of one to two new community forests in the greater region.

Capacity Building to Support Pilot Projects

To support the types of projects listed above, The Center is also working with partners to:

1. Provide financing for 2 projects through programs such as New Markets Tax Credits, the Community Forest Fund, or other means.
2. Engage people in the region to provide a regional voice on national public policy that affects the Northern Forest.
3. Increase coordination and capacity within existing networks in the region, and support new networks, to accelerate progress toward the goals above.