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Recognizing diversity is an essential element of academic excellence, the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) is offering Equity and Inclusion scholarships to students whose academic achievement and varied experiences will enhance and enrich the education of all UMA students and the institution’s educational mission. 

Equity and Inclusion Scholars may receive up to four years of funding, provided they continuously enroll each fall and spring semester in either full or part-time study in a graduate or undergraduate program and maintain the minimum GPA requirements of the scholarship.

“We are excited to provide this new scholarship opportunity,” stated UMA President Rebecca Wyke. “This continues UMA’s long-standing reputation as a welcoming learning community.”

“This scholarship provides benefits beyond the monetary assistance to the students,” said Susan Baker, UMA Professor of Science and Co-chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, “We all gain when there are opportunities to engage with a diverse community of all abilities, races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, nationalities, religious traditions, socioeconomic classes, and ages.”    

Scholarship funds may be used to cover education related expenses, including tuition and fees. UMA anticipates awarding two graduate and five undergraduate Equity and Inclusion Scholarships each year.  Award amounts for full-time graduate students will be $3,000 ($1,500/semester) and part-time graduate students are eligible to receive $1,500 ($750/semester).  Those in full-time undergraduate programs will be eligible to receive $4,000 ($2,000/semester) and part-time undergraduate students $2,000 ($1,000/semester).

The application deadline is March 15 and scholarships will be awarded beginning fall 2021. For complete scholarship details and to complete the application, visit:  uma.edu/eischolarship

The City of Augusta is pleased to announce that philanthropist Robert G. Fuller, Jr. has recently committed to a donation of $1,640,000 for the express purpose of underwriting all of the remaining funding necessary to construct state-of-the art improvements to Cony High School’s Alumni Field complex. Fuller, for years a vigorous advocate for causes in the City that was home to his forebears of both Fuller and Cony lineage, recently reached out to City Manager Bill Bridgeo expressing his desire to assist with a project that would benefit the youth of the City for generations to come. The $2.3 million Alumni Field improvement project, a long sought-after community goal, had stalled a year ago due to a lack of funding and Covid-19 related municipal finance challenges. Fuller’s donation will allow the project to proceed immediately.

Institutions in Augusta which have benefited from Fuller’s generosity include MaineGeneral Medical Center, Kennebec Historical Society, Cony High School, Kennebec Valley YMCA, Old Fort Western and Lithgow Library. He also endowed a scholarship fund administered by Le Club Calumet Educational Foundation, assisting high school seniors in Augusta and neighboring communities to pursue their postsecondary education.

In recognition of Fuller’s decades-long contributions to enhancing the quality of life for Augusta’s citizens, the City Council has resolved to rename the athletic field complex “Fuller Field.” Mayor Dave Rollins said “It’s hard to express our depth of gratitude to Bob for what he has done for and continues to do for our City. Bob appreciates that youth athletics are a vital element in the development of our children. Ensuring that they have facilities that encourage that growth and that they can be proud of is about as good a gift as someone can make. I speak for the entire community when I say ‘Thank you Bob Fuller - Augusta is a better place because of you.”

Fuller Field’s improvements will include a new artificial turf playing field, bleacher upgrades, and related ancillary improvements as well as a new track and field events area in the region of a former abutting tennis courts site (as events like javelin, discus, and shot-put are incompatible with an artificial turf surface). The City already has about $400,000 in funds on reserve for this project and $300,000 in community pledges that were committed through an earlier fund drive. The project is now expected to go out to bid within the next two months and construction should be underway soon thereafter. Artificial turf will allow for a significantly expanded playing season for the complex.

Asked what motivated him to make his gift, Fuller said, “I believe that when a high school has a continuing history of athletic success, it fosters a sense of community pride. It rubs off. When this pride is evident it becomes easier to attract people who’ll add value – doctors, teachers, artists, entrepreneurs – and who’ll choose to stay around. Not only because Augusta has the superior facilities and services they demand but it’s also where a visitor can detect that its citizens are upbeat and enjoy living where they are. You can’t have successful teams these days without the infrastructure you need to support them. So I don’t think of my action as simply a gift but rather as an investment in Augusta’s future.“

Questions should be directed to City Manager Bill Bridgeo at 207-626-2300.

One River CPA

One River CPAs is excited to announce our merger with Gibson LeClair, LLC. At One River, we understand that providing the best customer experience means continuing to grow the services that we currently offer without forgetting our commitment to the community. Our merger with Gibson LeClair, LLC gives our firm a larger presence in the Augusta area while also allowing us to build a staff of likeminded community leaders.

Gibson LeClair has been recognized as a leader of non-profit audits and tax services over the last twenty years. In addition to exceptional technical expertise, both Jeanne Gibson and Steve LeClair have dedicated countless hours to the Augusta community. Jeanne, Steve, Scott and the rest of the Gibson LeClair staff will make a wonderful addition to our One River team!

One River CPAs’ focus has always been and will always be on providing great customer service as we continue to grow. We take great pride in being able to provide tax, forensics and audit services using data analytics in our fully integrated cloud-based environment. This merger will make the firm one of the largest in Maine with offices now in Augusta, Bath and Oakland.

Current clients of both Gibson LeClair, LLC, and One River CPAs, can still count on the same faces, services and local offices and we encourage you to visit us at www.onerivercpas.com.

Bar Harbor, Maine – Bar Harbor Bank & Trust recently presented donations totaling nearly $12,000 to seven Northern New England nonprofit organizations from its employee-driven charitable giving program, Casual for a Cause. The recipients of the contributions collected in Q4 2020 are: BROC Community Action, Capstone Community Action, Friends in Action, Island Connections, Knox County Homeless Coalition, Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice, and Tedford Housing.

“These nonprofit organizations provide much-needed services to our communities, and the employees of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust are honored to be able to assist them with their efforts,” said Jack Frost, VP Director of Community Giving at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust.

Casual for a Cause gives Bank employees the opportunity to dress casually on Fridays in exchange for a bi-weekly payroll deduction made to a pool of funds collected during each quarter. The employees then vote on the nonprofits to receive their contributions. Employees have donated more than $100,000 to more than 50 organizations across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont since the program launched in 2018.

Recipients of Q4 2020 Donations

Maine

Friends in Action supports Hancock County elders with a range of free or low-cost programs, services such as transportation assistance, and activities that support health, fitness, and arts and enrichment. They empower older adults and those with disabilities to thrive and to live independently with dignity and a strong quality of life. Learn more about Friends in Action at www.friendsinactionellsworth.org.

“Thank you very much for the generous donation from the Bar Harbor Bank & Trust employees,” said Jo Cooper, Friends in Action Executive Director. “This will assist us in providing much-needed free transportation for older people to medical appointments, as well as doorstep delivery of food and medicine, including boxes from food pantries and hot meals from local food programs.”

Island Connections provides transportation assistance to Mount Desert Island residents who can't drive for medical or age reasons. Volunteer drivers take residents to medical appointments, grocery shopping, pharmacy visits, and more. Learn more about Island Connections at www.islconnections.org.

“We at Island Connections are overwhelmed with gratitude for the generosity of the employees at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust for becoming a part of the family of Neighbors Helping Neighbors by recommending us to benefit from the Casual for A Cause Program,” said Doreen Willett, Island Connections Executive Director. “The funds raised will be used for the purchase of PPE for our volunteer drivers to help ensure their safety and that of the Neighbors for whom they provide free transportation services.”

Knox County Homeless Coalition offers comprehensive programs and services to help adults, families, and youth in Midcoast Maine address issues that lead to or perpetuate homelessness. They collaborate with community partners and support clients to find shelter, housing, childcare, physical and mental healthcare, transportation, as well as education, job-skills training, financial literacy and life-skills learning. Learn more about Knox County Homeless Coalition at www.homehelphope.org.

“We couldn't be more grateful to have this community support,” said Stephanie Primm, Knox County Homeless Coalition Executive Direction. “People don't always associate phones with housing but an activated phone can be a lifeline for those experiencing homelessness…Your donation can keep 30 families connected to essential resources for a month or more while they work on their goals for stability.”

Tedford Housing is a nonprofit organization based in Brunswick, Maine, with a central belief that everyone deserves to have a safe and affordable home. They provide emergency homeless shelter, supportive housing for previously homeless families and individuals as well as homeless prevention services. Learn more about Tedford Housing at www.tedfordshelter.org.

“Every gift is helping individuals and families experiencing or on the brink of homelessness in the community find permanent housing,” said Rota Knott, Tedford Housing Executive Director. “Thank you, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, for supporting our mission to empower people to move from homelessness to home.”

New Hampshire

Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice provides health care and hospice services for individuals and families in homes and community settings, fostering continuity of care across settings and enabling people to stay in their homes as long as possible. They serve more than 30 towns in the Lake Sunapee and Upper Valley region. Learn more about Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice at www.lakesunapeevna.org.

“We are very grateful for the strong and continued support of Bar Harbor Bank &Trust as Lake Sunapee VNA & Hospice remains committed to enhancing quality of life of for so many people in the regions both our organizations serve,” said Cathy Raymond, Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice Development Officer. “Our team of nearly 200 staff travel to every corner of a large service area, making a difference every day. It really does empower them to keep up their good and often challenging work knowing that organizations like yours have our back and believe in what we do.”

Vermont

BROC Community Action works to allow the disadvantaged members of the community to develop and use their capacities and abilities. They are coordinating volunteers and working to meet the emerging needs, such as food, shelter, and medical supplies, for those struggling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about BROC Community Action at www.broc.org.

“More families than ever are turning to us now for help due to the impacts created by this languishing pandemic,” said Tom Donahue, BROC Community Action CEO. “Bar Harbor Bank & Trust and their many thoughtful employees have been amazing partners in addressing the needs of vulnerable Vermonters during this difficult time.”

Capstone Community Action is dedicated to creating resilient households and communities and to advancing justice in social, economic and environmental policy. They empower individuals with the tools and resources to move beyond poverty. Learn more about Capstone Community Action at www.capstonevt.org.

“On behalf of the thousands of Vermonters we served in 2020, thank you for your generosity to Capstone Community Action,” said Sue Minter, Capstone Community Action Executive Director. “During a time of great uncertainty and challenge, we all needed to dig deep, and you rose to the challenge by partnering with us during a year like none other.”

Bar Harbor Bankshares (NYSE American: BHB) is the parent company of its wholly owned subsidiary, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. Operating over 50 locations across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust is headquartered in Bar Harbor, Maine and has more than $3.6 billion in assets. As a leading Northern New England community bank, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust offers a full range of personal and business banking services, as well as wealth management services through its subsidiaries Bar Harbor Trust Services and Charter Trust Company. For more information about Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, visit www.barharbor.bank or call 888-853-7100. Member FDIC.

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KVCOG is proud to announce a new Business Financing opportunity through the CARES Act; $670,000 to expand KVCOG’s Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). These funds will allow KVCOG to make significant new investments in our regional economy by supporting small businesses, employment, and entrepreneurship in the Kennebec Valley.

As an important contact for businesses within our region, we are extremely hopeful that the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce will help us to get the word out about this new business financing opportunity, as well as a virtual information session, to be held on February 2nd.  

New to this CARES Act RLF is the availability of extremely favorable terms including interest rates as low as 0% and waiver of typical RLF requirements, such as providing leveraged capital or proving credit unavailability. To be eligible for this new Revolving Loan Fund, businesses must be located in Kennebec, Somerset, or western Waldo Counties. More information, including the application for funding, can be found at www.kvcog.org/rlf.

In conjunction with this new RLF program, KVCOG is pleased to partner with the SBA to offer the first in our new Resiliency Series! This series is designed to highlight different aspects of Resiliency throughout our region and is the product of additional funding from the EDA focused on helping our region respond to, and recover from, the COVID-19 pandemic.

This first free virtual session is titled “Help My Business Now!” and will provide an overview of this new funding opportunity including guidance on how these funds can best be utilized. This session will feature William Card, Economic Development Specialist, SBA, who will inform new and existing small businesses about SBA’s free and confidential Technical Assistance programs, as well as information about SBA’s own loan programs. 

What:

Help My Business Now! New Funding and Resources Information Session
In partnership with the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce and the Somerset Economic Development Corporation, Featuring SBA’s William Card

Format:

Free Virtual Session & Q&A

When:

February 2, 2021 from 8:30 – 10:00 am

Where:

Virtual session hosted on Zoom.

RSVP:

Register in advance and receive a confirmation email containing information joining: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvdOytrT0vGdz72gOPhfRr4JYoCMjKoRKR

Bar Harbor, Maine – Bar Harbor Bank & Trust’s employee giving program, Casual for a Cause, recently surpassed the $100,000 mark of total donations made to nonprofit organizations since the program launched in 2018. More than 53 organizations across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont have received donations through the program.

Casual for a Cause gives Bank employees the opportunity to dress casually on Fridays in exchange for a bi-weekly payroll deduction made to a pool of funds collected during each quarter. The employees then vote on the nonprofits to receive their contributions. The program is entirely voluntary, and each employee sets his/her own level of giving. Approximately 2/3 of the Bank’s employees participate in Casual for a Cause.

“Casual for a Cause gives our employees an easy way to give back to the communities where we live and work,” said Jack Frost, VP Director of Community Giving at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. “Even if employees are only able to contribute a few dollars, those donations add up and can make a significant difference to nonprofit organizations and the people they serve. Reaching this milestone is proof of the power of collective giving.”

The nonprofit organizations selected to receive a donation through Casual for a Cause generally offer a program or service that is tied to the Bank’s giving focus on education and workforce development. In 2020, employees targeted their donations to help nonprofit organizations that were delivering emergency services to people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organizations that have received a donation through Casual for a Cause since the program launched include:

Maine – AIO Food Pantry, Bar Harbor Food Pantry, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bath/Brunswick, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Coast, China Community Food Bank, Community Christmas Project, Downeast Community Partners, Eastern Area Agency on Aging, Emmaus Healthy Acadia, Homeless Shelter, Hancock County Tech Center, Island Food Pantry, Junior Achievement, Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry, Lubec Community Outreach Center, Machias Food Pantry, Maine Mental Health Connections, Maine Seacoast Mission Family Food Center, Mid-Coast Hunger Prevention Program, Newport Community Food Bank, Next Step Domestic Violence Project, OHI Inc, Tree of Life Food Pantry, Waterville Area Food Bank, and Westside Food Pantry.

New Hampshire – American Red Cross, Claremont Soup Kitchen, Friends Program, Girls Incorporated, Granite United Way, KLS Community Food Pantry, LISTEN Community Services, Newport Area Association Food Pantry, Second Growth, Turning Points Network, Upper Valley Habitat for Humanity, Upper Valley Haven, Waypoint, and Wellspring Food Pantry

Vermont – BROC Community Action, Brandon Area Emergency Food Shelf, Capstone Community Action, Clara Martin Center, Everybody Wins! VT, Gifford Medical Center, Girls on the Run Vermont, Jump$tart VT, Randolph Area Food Shelf, Rutland Regional Medical Center, Safeline Incorporated, and Vermont Institute for Natural Science.

Bar Harbor Bankshares (NYSE American: BHB) is the parent company of its wholly owned subsidiary, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. Operating over 50 locations across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust is headquartered in Bar Harbor, Maine and has more than $3.6 billion in assets. As a leading Northern New England community bank, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust offers a full range of personal and business banking services, as well as wealth management services through its subsidiaries Bar Harbor Trust Services and Charter Trust Company. For more information about Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, visit www.barharbor.bank or call 888-853-7100. Member FDIC.

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AUGUSTA, Maine - On April 6, as part of National Student-Athlete Day, Kaylyn Bourque, a sophomore at Lawrence High School announced the creation of her athlete brand today unveiling her logo and website at KaylynBourque.com. Bourque is the first athlete in the country to launch her athlete brand with Pliable, a Maine-based marketing agency that helps high school, college and professional athletes build their brand.

Photo of Greg Glynn, Athlete Brand Advisor & CEO of Pliable and Kaylyn Bourque, sophomore at Lawrence High School.

Photo of Greg Glynn, Athlete Brand Advisor & CEO of Pliable, and Kaylyn Bourque, a sophomore at Lawrence High School.


Bourque, 15, recently completed her ice hockey season in Maine as the leading goal scorer with 33 goals, 11 assists, and 44 points for the Winslow/Gardiner/Brewer/Messalonskee/Lawrence/Erskine Academy Black Tigers. She was named to the First Team All-Conference in the KVAC. She also recently completed her season with the Maine Gladiators U16 Tier II team. This spring, she will play girls lacrosse for Lawrence High School.

 

Athlete logo for Kaylyn Bourque

Athlete logo for Kaylyn Bourque


Bourque's logo features her "KB" Initials with the number 7 at the front of the letter "K" representing her favorite numbers, 7 and 77. The "B" in the logo is shaped as a hockey goal, indicating Kaylyn's passion for going to the net and ability to score. The italic font represents Bourque's speed on the ice and in other sports she has played, including lacrosse and track.

"I am grateful for my family, friends and teammates who have helped me become the athlete I am today. Greg and his company Pliable helped me develop the skills and tools I need to really get my name out there. I am looking forward to using all the things I have learned to find the best college and take my career to the next level on and off the ice," said Bourque.

During the athlete branding process, Bourque took several steps to help build her athlete profile and self-confidence. She also received advice from Greg Glynn, Athlete Brand Advisor & CEO of Pliable who provided her with media training and ideas for content development. Pliable also helped Kaylyn to produce her recruitment video which includes two goals that were submitted to SportsCenter's Top 10. She also worked with Pliable to design her athlete logo and website.

Recently, Kaylyn competed in the Tier II tryouts for the Casco Bay Mariners and made the U19 team at as 15-year-old. Starting in September, the Mariners will begin their schedule by competing in New England Girls Hockey League (NEGHL), the top girl's hockey league in the country.

“We are excited to have Kaylyn in the program next season at the U19 level. She is hard-working, smart, and sees the ice well which will fit in nicely with the great group of girls we have next season. The Casco Bay Girls program does an exceptional job of balancing skill development, practice time, and competition, and Kaylyn will have the opportunity to progress in all those areas,” said Matt Poulin, head coach of the girls U19 Casco Bay Mariners.

Bourque's career goal is to play for the Boston Pride in the Premier Hockey Federation. She is the first athlete in the country to build her brand using Pliable's 10-Step Athlete Branding Playbook, which helps athletes to leverage their name, image, and likeness during and after their playing career.
“I am so proud of Kaylyn for what she has accomplished during the past three months. She is a fast skater and a fast learner! Kaylyn now has the skills and tools to make herself more marketable to colleges, coaches, and recruiters. She is a positive role model for all future athletes who want to set big goals, create a game plan and go after their dreams. In addition to being a great athlete, she is an outstanding young woman; she is going to attract a lot of attention from colleges across the country,” said Greg Glynn, Athlete Brand Advisor & CEO of Pliable.

To learn more about Pliable, including the company's Mission E50 to help promote the popularity of women's sports, visit PliableMarketing.com.

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About Pliable
Pliable is versatile marketing, PR, and broadcasting company that identifies opportunities and creates tailored content for its clients. Based in Augusta, Maine, the company specializes in athlete branding for high school, college, and professional athletes. Athlete Brand Advisor & CEO, Greg Glynn is one of only 5,000 public relations professionals to earn national accreditation from the Public Relations Society of America. He has more than 20 years of marketing, public relations, and broadcasting experience, including his role as host of The Athlete Brand Advisor Podcast. Learn more at PliableMarketing.com.

Media contact:
Greg Glynn
Athlete Brand Advisor & CEO
Pliable Marketing
1-707-PLIABLE

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