Prepared for this proposal

Sample Content Set for Aroostook Rising

Samples show voice and format. Each would be reviewed by Aroostook Partnership and carry NBRC credit wording from NMDC before publication.

Article, AP style

Aroostook County program pairs newcomers with neighbors

CARIBOU, Maine — A new effort in Aroostook County is built on a simple idea: People stay where somebody knows their name.

Aroostook Rising, led by Aroostook Partnership, aims to attract and retain workers for shortages in forestry, health care and financial services. The program is supported by a $360,210 grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission.

The need is plain in the numbers. The county's population fell 4% from 2013 to 2023, and about 26% of its 66,776 residents are 65 or older, according to federal data.

Ambassadors in the St. John Valley, Central Aroostook and Southern Aroostook pair new residents with people who share their interests. The goal, Aroostook Partnership President and CEO Kiersten Purington told The County in August, is for newcomers to have "a friendly face and know that they've got somebody that they can connect with."

LaNiece Sirois of the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce put it in three words: "They choose a community."

Newcomers can reach the county's resident recruiter or meet an ambassador at opportunitiesaroostook.com.

Newsletter item

New here, or thinking about it? Ambassadors across The County are ready to answer your questions, from where to find a good pediatrician to which trails to ski first. Find your region's ambassadors at opportunitiesaroostook.com.

Social posts

Facebook: Moving somewhere new is easier when someone saves you a seat. Aroostook Rising ambassadors in the St. John Valley, Central Aroostook and Southern Aroostook are ready to say hello. Meet yours at opportunitiesaroostook.com.

LinkedIn: Aroostook County employers in forestry, health care and financial services are hiring. If you are ready for meaningful work and a community that will know your name, start with our resident recruiter at opportunitiesaroostook.com.

Instagram: Your next neighbor is already looking forward to meeting you. Find an Aroostook ambassador through the link in our bio. #TheCounty #AroostookRising

Infographic

Infographic titled Aroostook County at a glance. 66,776 residents as of July 1, 2024. Population down 4 percent from 2013 to 2023. 26.4 percent of residents are 65 or older. Key workforce needs are forestry, healthcare and financial services. Ambassadors serve the St. John Valley, Central Aroostook and Southern Aroostook. Sources are the U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024, and The County, August 4, 2026.