NORTHERN FOREST CENTER INC
18 North Main Street No 204, Concord, NH 03301 www.northernforest.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: The Northern Forest Center is a regional innovation and investment partner bringing ideas, support, and expertise to people strengthening economic opportunity and environmental resiliency across Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. Our strategy for creating thriving communities, forest and economies in the Northern Forest is to catalyze innovation in the forest economy, develop vibrant rural communities, and provide dynamic regional leadership.

Founded in 1997, the Northern Forest Center is a regional innovation and investment partner creating rural vibrancy by connecting people, economy and the forested landscape across the 30-million-acre Northern Forest of northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. We bring collaborative leadership, new ideas, program delivery, investment, and public policy expertise to renew the pride, purpose and vitality of the region's communities while advancing a forest stewardship ethic. The Center's programs strengthen communities, enhance destination appeal for visitors and residents, drive regional innovation in key sectors of the forest-based economy, including wood products and Automated Wood Heat, and provide regional leadership. Our integrated approach is rooted in a strong land ethic that benefits attracts and retains young people and entrepreneurs.

Developing vibrant rural communities: the Center strengthens the vitality of rural communities and their ability to attract new residents and entrepreneurs seeking quality of life, community, and connection to the natural world. In FY2020, the Center: supported citizen-managed Community Forests in Bethel and Woodstock, ME, Milan and Hanover, NH and elsewhere; built community leadership, capacity and cooperation through the Community Destination Academy in Rangeley and Bethel, ME; managed Maine West, a collaborative of diverse non-profits in Bethel, Rumford, South Paris and Norway, ME, implementing projects to secure economic, education, health and conservation benefits; managed the Adirondack Community Recreation Alliance in NY; and facilitated the Bike Borderlands collaborative to create and promote quality mountain biking experiences in Gorham, Franconia and Littleton, NH; Bethel and Carrabassett Valley, ME; East Burke and Craftsbury, VT; and East Hereford, Quebec, for visitors and residents while stewarding the natural landscape and securing economic benefits for North Country communities.Through our subsidiary Sustainable Forest Futures: -Continued property redevelopment in Lancaster, NH to provide retail space for a local nonprofit food market and 6 quality apartments and in Millinocket, ME to increase quality housing as part of a broader community revitalization strategy in the community.

Catalyzing innovation in the forest economy: The Center helps create and improve jobs and build local wealth through opportunities that advance a regional land ethic and sustainable use of the forest. The Center's program work focuses in the following three areas:-Automated Wood Heat: Since inception, the Automated Wood Heat program has reduced greenhouse gas impact by 6,600 tons by substituting wood pellets for more than 1 million gallons of fossil fuels, generating $5.6 million in positive economic impact for the region.-Wood Products Manufacturing: The Wood Products Innovation program provided direct financial assistance and business consulting to 21 wood products businesses, helping retain or create jobs for more than 800 people. The Northern Forest Board Forum provided CEOs with business coaching throughout the year, as well as crisis counseling when Covid-19 shut down the region's economy. -Rural Destination Development: Supported 81 tourism businesses and destination development organizations employing more than 250 people with grants, training and technical assistance. Supported eight rural destinations areas with destination strategy development, including through Community Destination Academies in Rangeley and Bethel, Maine. Continued coordination of a cooperative regional marketing strategy for the northeast kingdom of Vermont.

Providing Dynamic Regional Leadership: The Center provides regional leadership, advocates for and supports thriving communities and healthy forests by increasing federal investment in the region, developing funding opportunities that meet emerging needs, and co-leading a national coalition to increase attention to the needs of rural communities.-Advocacy for the future of the Northern Forest: Presented and advocated for innovative rural development approaches and changes in public policy serving rural communities. Helped secure new federal funds of $4 million to support the forest economy through the Northern Border Regional Commission, $3 million to support the outdoor recreation economy and $3 million in incremental funding for the Economic Development Administration. Continued leadership in the national Rural Development Innovation Group collaboration.

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