In a significant boost for Maine’s tourism sector, the Maine Office of Tourism has announced the allocation of over $1 million to eight organizations as part of the final round of the Tourism Marketing & Development Recovery Program. Among the recipients, the High Peaks Alliance was awarded $92,000.
Promoting Stewardship
This award is a pivotal moment for the High Peaks Alliance. The grant funding will allow us to enrich the visitor and resident experience, emphasize natural resource stewardship, and contribute to the sustainable growth of Maine’s tourism industry. As the state continues to recover and thrive, the Alliance is stepping up to play a leading role in shaping the future of tourism in the region.
“We’re delighted to receive this generous grant! It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to promote sustainable tourism in the High Peaks region while connecting with diverse communities and creating unforgettable experiences for our visitors. We can’t wait to see the positive impact this will have on our local economy and natural resources,” said Amanda Laliberte, Director of Engagement at the Alliance. “We hope to shine a light on our natural resources that are overlooked and underutilized, helping to take the pressure from places like Tumbledown in Weld and Bald Mountain in Oquossoc.”
This funding initiative, administered by the Maine Office of Tourism, is backed by $2 million in funds from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. It was established to support Maine’s travel and tourism industry in recovering from the financial challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additional Recipients
The award recipients include an array of organizations, each dedicated to enhancing Maine’s tourism landscape:
– Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce – $93,000
– Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine – $200,000
– Eastern Maine Development Corporation – $195,000
– Heart of Ellsworth – $200,000
– Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation – $94,500
– Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce – $70,000
– Rangeley Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce – $90,000
“These projects will further strengthen the state’s visitor economy and foster a more resilient tourism industry in Maine in the coming decades,” said Heather Johnson, commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.
“We are excited to award this final round of Tourism Marketing & Development Recovery Program funding, through the EDA Travel, Tourism & Outdoor Recreation Program, to organizations whose projects will have a positive impact on our travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation sectors here in Maine,” said Hannah Collins, deputy director of the Office of Tourism. “These projects will also enhance the visitor experience and help to create a more equitable and competitive industry.”
Recipients selected to receive an award successfully demonstrated their projects’ potential for long-term transformational impacts; campaigns that reach underrepresented, new, and diverse communities of visitors; and the creation and/or improvement of tourism assets that will live on beyond the life of the grant term. Projects must be completed by September 2025.
Awards are funded through the US Economic Development Administration American Rescue Plan Act Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation State Grant as consistent with the State of Maine’s scope of work and approved grants administration plan for this award.
