DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Maine Crafts Association has taken the first step to create a new Maine Specialty License Plate by submitting a letter of intent to the Maine Secretary of State. The plate will support craft, art and creativity in Maine.

The group is accepting design entries for the plate.Design specifications are available at mainecrafts.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Plate+Specifications1.pdf. Deadline to submit a design is Oct. 12. Submission requirements are a JPEG or PDF, at least 300 dpi resolution, or via hardcopy. Contact Lisa [email protected] or 564-0041 with questions. Designs can be submitted to Lisa at [email protected] or Maine Crafts Association, 50 Mayo St., Dover-Foxcroft ME 04426.

MCA will select the top designs, those that follow the Secretary of State rules, best represent Maine craft/art/makers and are likely to garner the most support and interest. Once narrowed down, MCA will seek feedback from the community via Facebook, e-newsletters and the MCA website to learn which one design has the most support and submit it to the Secretary of State.

Once a design has been approved, MCA will collect the name, signature, license plate number and $25 from 2000 people. The signature list and money goes to the Secretary of State, who will submit proposed legislation seeking authorization of the specialty plate to the following regular session of the Legislature.

Once finalized, each of the 2000 people who signed and paid $25 will be mailed a coupon to collect the new plate. If, for any reason, the effort does not meet the goal, everyone will be refunded.

After approval, the plate will become available to the general public, likely in 2014. MCA will then begin to earn a portion of the plate fees to put toward programming, marketing and scholarships supporting Maine’s creative population.