KVCOG’s Community and Economic Development staff provide a broad array of planning and technical assistance support services for municipal officials interested in taking advantage of State and federal financial programs for infrastructure development and other economic development projects. The staff help municipal officials prepare applications for both the federal Economic Development Administration and the Community Development Block Grant program.

EDA assists rural and urban areas experiencing high unemployment, low income, or other severe economic distress.

The most common use of EDA dollars is within the following programs:

• Public Works: EDA investments fund local public works infrastructure projects to allow communities to establish and support private sector businesses.

• Planning & Local Technical Assistance: EDA’s local technical assistance and planning grant program helps KVCOG fill the knowledge gaps that inhibit communities from responding to development opportunities or solving specific economic problems. A common purpose of these grants is to determine the feasibility of proposed economic development investments.

• Economic Adjustment Assistance: The EDA program provides a wide range of technical, planning, and public works and infrastructure assistance in regions experiencing adverse economic changes that may occur suddenly or over time. These adverse economic impacts may result from a steep decline in manufacturing employment following a plant closure, changing trade patterns, catastrophic natural disaster, a military base closure, or environmental changes and regulations.

For more information on EDA and their programs visit the EDA Website.

Each year the State of Maine receives a formula allocation of funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to be distributed to eligible Maine communities under the Community Development Block Grant Program.

In 1982 the State of Maine began administering the CDBG Program to assist units of local government in various community projects in areas ranging from infrastructure, housing, downtown revitalization to public facilities and economic development.

CDBG Funded Projects 1982-2023

Community and Economic Development Director

(207) 238-6387
jcyr@kvcog.org

Jessie began her career in municipal government in 2003 in the Planning, Building and Engineering Department in her hometown in CT until she relocated to Maine in 2020. She joined KVCOG in the summer of 2022 as the Economic and Community Development Specialist and was promoted to Economic and Community Development Director in 2024.

Since joining KVCOG, Jessie has managed the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) Grant Program, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, Brownfields Program and has assisted communities in our region with Economic and Community Development initiatives. As the Economic and Community Development Director, she also oversees the Environmental program work and the Regional Code Enforcement Program and provides guidance and support to the team.

Outside of work, Jessie enjoys spending time outdoors gardening and fishing with her husband and dogs.

Community & Economic Development Planner 

(207) 217-5871
jboynton@kvcog.org

Jon Boynton recently started as the Community and Economic Development Planner at KVCOG. He comes to KVCOG with a background in Land Use Planning and economic development. Previously, he worked as the Business Development Specialist at Piscataquis County Economic Development Council in Dover-Foxcroft and as the City Planner for the City of Belfast. Jon grew up in Greenville and developed an interest in development after seeing the changes the community experienced following Scott Paper's departure from the region and how large-scale development can divide a community. In Jon’s free time, he likes to ski, hike and to travel with his partner Chris.