Regional development board seeks $167,000 from Penobscot County to support northern recovery; commissioners point to TIF and PILT limits

Representatives from the regional development board told Penobscot County commissioners on Feb. 27 that they are seeking about $167,000 for the coming year to fund an economic development office and related activities to support northern communities and the Unorganized Territory.

The presenters — identified in the meeting as Deb Ronpre, Charles Pray and Shane Flynn — described a draft budget that trims administrative fees paid through Eastern Maine Development Corporation and adds roughly $7,500 for participation in economic development shows. They said they envision an economic development staff position with an expected salary in the range of $75,000 to $95,000 and asked the county to consider a funding commitment that could be staged over several years.

"We put in 167,000 because we think the salary is somewhere between the 75 to 95 depending on who we can attract," a regional representative said. Commission members said they recognized the urgency of reversing valuation and population losses in the northern county but noted the county's constrained 2026 budget. The chair said the county had already allocated its available PILT funds elsewhere this year and therefore had no immediate discretionary funds to commit to the request.

Commissioners suggested the development board pursue a TIF (tax increment financing) application and coordinate with the TIF committee to determine what portion of the project might qualify for prorated TIF support; they also recommended seeking contributions from towns in the region, private philanthropy and other outside sources. A county official said recent changes to the TIF program require applicants to have some "skin in the game," including paying some application expenses.

Presenters argued the program would help attract businesses, increase valuation and create construction and employment benefits. They cited recent and proposed private investments they said would bring substantial economic activity to the region, listing a salmon company investment they described as about $350 million and another biofuels project they described as about $250 million as examples of potential private activity that could complement local development efforts.

Next steps: commissioners asked the presenters to submit detailed materials to the county administrator and to the TIF committee for review; the county's budget advisory committee and TIF committee were identified as the next procedural venues to evaluate funding feasibility. Commissioners did not commit county funds at the Feb. 27 meeting.