FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners voted Monday to approve three scholarships for employment skills training totaling $17,111.
The money will come from the tax-increment financing agreement with TransCanada Maine Wind Development Inc. related to Kibby Wind Power. The TIF agreement targets specific areas in the unorganized territory of Franklin County.
The county has $55,107 in its employment training line of the TIF, with $7,900 being added yearly, Alison Hagerstrom, executive director of Greater Franklin Development Council, told commissioners. Hagerstrom and county Clerk Julie Magoon oversee a committee that recommends grant or scholarship, and project applications to commissioners for approval.
In 2008, it was estimated the county would retain $4 million over 20 years when commissioners entered into a credit-enhancement agreement with TransCanada. The agreement is related to the 44-turbine Kibby Wind Power Project on Kibby Mountain and Kibby Range in northern Franklin County. The project was valued at about $320 million in 2010.
However, the money for the agreement has come in faster than expected and the county is nearing the $4 million cap. There is an ongoing effort with the county trying to renegotiate with TransCanada to amend the original TIF and expand categories.
The Franklin County Tax Incentive Financing Funds Review Committee recommended that employment training scholarships be awarded to Mariah Ross of Freeman Township who is working toward a degree in biology, Hagerstrom said.
She had a 3.69 grade point average last semester, she said. The amount recommended is $3,979.
They have also recommended that Christina Brown, also of Freeman Township, get a scholarship for $8,131. She is working to be a massage therapist to better herself at Spa Tech Institute in Westbrook, Hagerstrom said.
The committee also recommended a $5,000 scholarship for Draegan Tooker, also of Freeman Township who is working on media studies at the University of Southern Maine.
dperry@sunmediagroup.net
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