Federal Grant to Support Statewide Research, Outreach Project
Contact: Joe Carr, (207) 581-3571
ORONO – Gov. John Baldacci and other state government leaders will join University of Maine and University of Southern Maine officials on Wednesday to announce a $20 million National Science Foundation EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) grant to create the Center for Sustainability Solutions. The announcement event is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday July 15 at Wells Conference Center.
The five-year project is focused on creating a sustainable society by bringing together core research teams from UMaine and the University of Southern Maine, as well as government and industry stakeholders. The center will also create partnerships with most of Maine’s colleges and universities for research and education efforts in the area of sustainability.
The project will directly support 200 to 300 jobs, mainly in the research sector, while also providing for statewide education initiatives at all grade levels in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The ultimate goal is to build capacity for generating solutions to sustainability problems such as renewable energy, alternative transportation, and water resource management.
In addition to the five-year EPSCoR grant, the Maine Economic Improvement Fund is contributing $1 million per year for five years, along with a $ 1 million per year in-kind contribution from UMaine in the form of faculty salaries and use of research facilities.