Other organizations that received Champions of Economic Development awards from the Maine Development Foundation:

n Coastal Enterprises Inc. CEI is investing $35 million in venture capital in job-generating efforts, developing employment for dependent populations and managing $129 million under the New Markets Tax Credit Program.

n Bank of America. Since merging with Fleet Bank, the bank has increased its giving in Maine by 28 percent. The bank focuses on programs to help Maine build better communities, especially programs involving youth, children and families.

n Also honored: Mark L. Johnston, president of Kennebec Savings Bank, who received the Kenneth M. Curtis Leadership Award, and GrowSmart Maine, which received the Main Street Hero Award for its work revitalizing Maine’s downtowns.

n A new category of awards, the REALIZE!Maine Champion Awards, were also conferred. Libra Future Fund was recognized for its youth grant program, which supports young entrepreneurs’ efforts to gain professional and educational experience. And Yellow Light Breen, a senior vice president with Bangor Savings Bank who was tapped in 2004 to lead Maine’s efforts to attract and retain young people, was also honored.The public face of REALIZE!Maine, Breen has helped launchefforts across the state to keep young people living and working in Maine.


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