An Act To Bolster Rural Economies
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1280
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: COLLINGS, ALLEY, LANDRY, PERRY, TUELL, MOORE, STEWART
Amends: 20-A MRSA §10911

Legislative Document
No. 1280
H.P. 940
House of Representatives, March 29, 2021
An Act To Bolster Rural Economies
Received by the Clerk of the House on March 25, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to 
Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative COLLINGS of Portland.
Cosponsored by Representatives: ALLEY of Beals, LANDRY of Farmington, PERRY of 
Calais, TUELL of East Machias, Senators: MOORE of Washington, STEWART of Aroostook.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §10911 is enacted to read:
§10911.  Maine Rural Economy Future Development Program
1.  Program established.  The Maine Rural Economy Future Development Program, 
referred to in this section as "the program," is established within the university to promote 
future business development in rural Maine through the creation of programs that provide 
course offerings on the economy of rural Maine.  
2.  Campus participation; required.  As part of the program, the University of Maine 
at Fort Kent, the University of Maine at Presque Isle, the University of Maine at Machias 
and the University of Maine at Farmington shall each create and offer a program that 
provides a comprehensive study of the rural economy of Maine and that promotes the 
partnering of students with businesses in rural Maine.
3.  Program criteria.  The program must:
A.  Provide each student with compensation, health care, a housing voucher and student 
loan forgiveness in exchange for work at the respective campus; and
B.  On a biennial basis, allow for up to 3 students from each campus required to offer 
a program under subsection 2 to be selected to work for 2 years on rural economic 
growth once the students graduate.
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
Maine Rural Economy Future Development Program N351
Initiative: Provides ongoing annual funds of $500,000 each to the University of Maine at 
Fort Kent, the University of Maine at Presque Isle, the University of Maine at Machias and 
the University of Maine at Farmington to establish and implement the Maine Rural 
Economy Future Development Program established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
20-A, section 10911.  Funds appropriated to this program do not lapse but must be carried 
forward into the next fiscal year to be used only for the purpose for which the funds were 
provided.
GENERAL FUND
2021-22
2022-23
All Other
$2,000,000
$2,000,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$2,000,000
$2,000,000
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Maine Rural Economy Future Development Program within 
the University of Maine System to promote future business development in rural Maine by 
providing course offerings on the economy of rural Maine.  The bill requires the University 
of Maine at Fort Kent, the University of Maine at Presque Isle, the University of Maine at 
Machias and the University of Maine at Farmington to each create and offer a program that 
provides a comprehensive study of the rural economy of Maine and that promotes the 
partnering of students with businesses in rural Maine.  The bill specifies that the program 
must include provisions that, on a biennial basis, allow for up to 3 students from each 
campus required to implement the program to be selected to work for 2 years on rural 
economic growth once they graduate and that provide each student with compensation, 
health care, a housing voucher and student loan forgiveness in exchange for work at the 
respective campus.  The bill also provides General Fund appropriations of $2,000,000 per 
year, with each of the 4 campuses required to establish and implement the program 
receiving $500,000 annually.