Economic Development

As a non-profit, PROJECTS, Inc. has a unique financial legacy. While most non-profits tend to focus on annual contributions to sustain their initiatives, PROJECTS focuses on independent sustainability and growth when establishing a program. Therefore, PROJECTS has modeled itself has a venture capitalist non-profit – typically focusing on the first two years of an organization’s beginning during which it provides staff consultation and funding. After that, the new organization is turned over to local leadership and other financial sources. This model has proven to be immensely successful. For example, Home Counselors was founded in xxx with $350,000 of PROJECTS financing. Still in operation today, Home Counselors has grown substantially and over the past 20 years has added $24,000,000 worth of to the midcoast Maine community. For more information on one of PROJECTS flagship economic development programs, click on one of the links to the right.

Full list of PROJECTS Economic Development Programs:

NEW HAMPSHIRE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTER Manchester, New Hampshire (1976-1977) Started a staff training and work study program for incarcerated youth.

KNOX COUNTY YOUTH EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAM Camden, Maine (1977-1978) Established a CETA-sponsored training program for hard-to-employ youth. Our study-to-work program was awarded top funding priority by Governor Jim Longley.

MAINE STATE EMPLOYMENT TRAINING COUNCIL Camden, Maine (1978-1979) Tailored individualized training programs for hard-to-employ youth.

ODD JOBS Camden, Maine (1979-1982) Built a for-profit community-based business in land management, heavy and light landscaping and home maintenance for senior citizens.

HOME COUNSELORS, INC. Rockland, Maine (1981-present) Developed an in-home crisis intervention counseling program for the Maine Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation.

ROCKLAND FUTURES PROJECT Rockland, Maine (1990-1993) Guided a coalition of community development-minded citizens in designing and developing a long-range plan for sustained growth of the greater Rockland community.

DUCKTRAP RIVER FISH FARM, INC. Belfast, Maine (1997-1998) Linked twelve middle management employees to fundraising activities for a new chapter of Big Brothers/Big Sisters in Waldo County, Maine.