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River Valley Lunch and Learn set for Nov. 16

RUMFORD – The River Valley Technology Center, the River Valley Growth Council and the River Valley Chamber of Commerce present the next Business Lunch and Learn on Wednesday, Nov. 16. It will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the River Valley Technology Center on 60 Lowell St.

This month’s topic will be “Maine Technology Institute Development Award” to be presented by Joseph Migliaccio, who is responsible for project management and technology evaluation for the MTI Development Award program. The program awards up to $5 million to develop new technology products and services.

Participants can expect to learn how to successfully prepare a proposal in time for the February deadline. A previous proposal will be used for discussion. Participants are asked to read the Development Award Request For Proposals posted on the MTI site: www.mainetechnology.org, and come with questions.

The cost is $10 and includes lunch. Preregistration is required by phoning Beverly at (207) 369-0396 or e-mail [email protected] by Nov. 14.

Gifford’s vanilla scoops top award from dairy expo

SKOWHEGAN – The top international award for vanilla ice cream went to Gifford’s old fashioned vanilla ice cream at an international competition at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis.

The contest involved hundreds of dairies and ice cream products. More than 65,000 people from more than 80 different countries attended the expo. This was Gifford’s Ice Cream first year of competing.

Gifford’s Ice Cream, located in Skowhegan, is one of the last regional ice cream manufacturers in northern New England. It employs up to 100 people and purchases more than 2 million gallons of milk exclusively from Maine farmers while producing more than 1 million gallons of ice cream every year.