As part of its ongoing efforts to immerse itself in the community and learn more about the needs and successes of their customers and partners, the board of directors and staff of the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) recently toured parts of Kennebec and Somerset Counties.

On October 16, the group visited B&B Precise Products in Benton, a customer that has grown steadily in recent years. The company employs over fifty people and manufactures precision-machined components and assemblies for a variety of customers, including the aerospace and defense industries. Established in 1990, B&B Precise Products is a family-owned, certified small business spanning three generations. FAME also enjoyed a lunchtime presentation by Garvan Donegan of the Central Maine Growth Council at a downtown Waterville restaurant, The Proper Pig, about recent economic development efforts in the Central Maine area. Local legislators Rep. Bruce White of Waterville and Rep. Catherine Nadeau of Winslow joined the group for some of the events.

Later, the group visited Thomas College in Waterville, where it enjoyed presentations by Ed Cervone, executive director of the Center for Innovation in Education, as well as by Provost Tom Edwards. FAME later enjoyed a walking tour of the campus conducted by Thomas student Stevo Reid ‘19. The group later enjoyed a dinnertime presentation at Oakland’s Riverside Farm Market & Café by State Economist Amanda Rector regarding her involvement in helping to formulate a state economic development plan, as well as current challenges and opportunities facing the Maine economy.

FAME held its monthly board meeting on October 17 at the Alfond campus of Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) in Fairfield. Prior to the board meeting, the board enjoyed presentations by David Daigler, Maine Community College System President and vice chair of the FAME board, as well as by KVCC President Richard Hopper, on the various workforce development efforts and course offerings of the school.

FAME board Chair Jay Violette, a Waterville native and resident, stated: “FAME really benefits from these opportunities to get out in the community and visit with local businesses and institutions of higher education. There is a lot of positive educational and economic activity taking place in the Greater Waterville region. We enjoyed witnessing firsthand their success stories and learning about the needs and future plans of our business and higher education partners.”

FAME is a quasi-independent state agency that provides financial solutions that help Maine people achieve their business and higher education goals. FAME helps to create a Maine workforce that with good-paying jobs by focusing on the nexus of economic and educational development. FAME recently was recognized for the fifth year in a row as one of the Best Places to Work in Maine. To learn more about FAME, please visit www.famemaine.com.