Eastern Maine Development Corporation, the non-profit organization that works to support economic health and a positive business climate in Eastern Maine, has selected Cianbro for the 2014 EMDC Champion of the Year award. The honor is bestowed upon institutions and individuals who work with EMDC and other organizations to improve economic opportunity in the region. Cianbro's Vice President of Project Development Ernie Kilbride, and Associate Director of Workforce Development Steve Pound were singled out for special recognition.
“Ernie has been very much involved in brownfields development and serves on our advisory committee, providing great insights into ways to make brownfields development a business-friendly activity,” said EMDC President Michael Aube. “And then Steve certainly has been involved with workforce development in our region, and helping to design the programs and the delivery system to make those things happen throughout the area.”
Aube pointed out that the economic landscape for the Penquis, Hancock County and Waldo County region where EMDC operates has seen difficult transformations as manufacturing jobs disappear while leaving behind the region’s traditional natural resources base. “And so serving on a brownfields committee, or on a workforce committee, contributes a focus on what the vision of the future is going to be,” said Aube. “What do we need to do for ourselves in this region to provide economic opportunity and growth so that individuals can get a decent job for decent pay, and keep their families here, and hopefully keep their youth here? Cianbro, and certainly Steve and Ernie, have been critical in trying to make that happen for this region.”
Aube pointed out that Cianbro has always maintained a strong commitment to the area, including basing the company’s corporate headquarters in Pittsfield, while cultivating Cianbro projects across the nation. He said the national perspective, information and data that Cianbro shares with the EMDC team while working toward a better economic future for the region has been very helpful.