Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corp. receives $55,000 in grants
GREENVILLE — The Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corp. (MLREDC) recently received three grant awards to assist efforts in leading the economic revitalization of the Moosehead Lake region.
MLREDC received a $5,000 grant from the Weyerhaeuser Company to expand the public WiFi system in downtown Greenville. The Wi-Fi system was first installed in May 2016 to serve a portion of the downtown village. The Wi-Fi system has been very popular with visitors and residents, growing to nearly 8,000 monthly users in the summer of 2017.
The Wi-Fi system makes it easy and convenient for visitors and residents to find information about local businesses, outdoor activities, and things to do in the Moosehead Lake region with the goal of on improving the user’s experience and increasing business activity in the region.
With this grant from the Weyerhaeuser Company, MLREDC will be able to expand access to the public Wi-Fi system to a larger area of downtown Greenville.
MLREDC received the second-half of a two-year grant award from the Betterment Fund for $15,000 each year. The Betterment Fund award will help fund professional administrative staffing services to increase the capacity of the MLREDC to implement action items in its recently completed Regional Master Plan in a timely manner.
MLREDC received a third award of $35,000 from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation to complete the development of the Artisan Cottage Village in downtown Greenville. The first phase of the Artisan Cottages was completed in the summer of 2017, with the second phase slated for 2018. The Cottages provide space for artisans, artists, and crafts people to display and sell their creations, adding excitement to the downtown.
Geno Murray MLREDC’s Treasurer said, “We are delighted to have been awarded these three important and generous grants and we appreciate the confidence these grantors have shown in the work MLREDC is doing to revitalize the Moosehead Lake region.”
The MLREDC also elected its 2018 corporate officers at its Dec. 15 meeting. Steve Levesque will assume the role of its president; Paula St. Laurent, its vice president; Eugene Murray, its treasurer; and Joe DiAngelo, its secretary.