Greenville Select Board supports Big Moose Mountain grant application
GREENVILLE — The Greenville Select Board is supporting a local nonprofit’s efforts to purchase the 1,700-acre Big Moose Mountain property.
The board approved a letter of support for a $500,000 grant application by the Friends of the Mountain to the Northern Border Regional Commission Catalyst Program during an April 16 meeting.
The Friends of the Mountain launched the “Ski the View, Save the Mountain” campaign earlier this year to provide a permanent nonprofit ski area for the Moosehead Lake region and a year-round outdoor recreational asset to revitalize the area’s economy. The campaign would enable the purchase of the ski resort and an adjacent 500 acres for projects that help sustain the area.
The property is owned by James Confalone with the 1,700 acres listed with Folsom Realty Group for $5.95 million.
The letter of support says the select board enthusiastically and proudly supports the Friends of the Mountain’s application for the property located 5 miles north of Greenville in Big Moose Township, Select Chair Geno Murray said.
“A community-led, sustainably operated nonprofit will ensure the future of the ski mountain — a vital cornerstone of our region’s economy,” Murray said. “For our region to fully recover from economic challenges and resulting population loss and declining school enrollment over the last two decades, we must attract new talent, promote entrepreneurial business development, provide supporting community infrastructure and promote a unique hub of excellence and outdoor recreation.”
Reopening the upper portion of Big Moose Mountain for skiing and restoring the skiing infrastructure, both of which have been abandoned for more than two decades, will bring back more than 20,000 ski visits and will directly increase business activity and sales, Murray said. Up to 10 full-time jobs would be added, as would another 30-50 seasonal jobs.
The letter says Greenville, a service center for the region, is on the move with new quality of life amenities such as a new public safety building, hospital, downtown waterfront park and mountain bike trails, and forthcoming community center and internet upgrades.
“This exciting economic development aligns closely with the [Northern Border Regional Commission] mission and priorities and the state’s 10-year economic development strategy,” Murray said, with the town welcoming the partnership.
The Catalyst Program is designed to stimulate economic growth and inspire partnerships that improve rural economic vitality across the commission’s four-state region. It encourages projects that take a creative approach to addressing an economic need or opportunity in the region, alleviate economic distress and contribute to economic growth.
“Ski the View, Save the Mountain” launched in mid-January as a partnership between the Friends of the Mountain and Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corporation. Phase I is a $5.95 million goal and Phase II seeks more than $13 million in additional funds through 2030 for more improvements to the site in a $19.65 million project.
The $13.75 million would open the upper mountain; provide for new ski lifts, snowmaking equipment and infrastructure upgrades; renovate the upper mountain lodge; develop housing options; and secure private development for hotel renovation.
In other business, several items were mentioned in Town Manager Mike Roy’s report.
Greenville’s comprehensive plan has been deemed complete and consistent across all sections with the state Growth Management Act, per the Maine Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Conservation, Bureau of Natural Resources, and Information Land Use Planning.
These findings are valid for 12 years, running through mid-April 2037.
“So put that date on your calendar because that’s the deadline for the next one,” Roy said, thanking the comprehensive plan committee.
The budget process for the 2025-26 fiscal year is continuing, Roy said, as he wants the public to know this work is not yet complete.
The Moosehead Outdoor Alliance is planning a grand opening of the skills track at Red Cross Beach for August. The date will be determined, ideally to coincide with the grand opening of the beach.
The shorter course at the beach will enable riders to practice their balance, jump over logs, work on cornering skills and more on the specially designed skill track.