On February 21, 2011 the City Manager of Caribou and our Loring’s BCL met on Center to address the recent News Releases of proposals  of H.R. 1, which, if enacted could result in the closing of Loring and Penobscot Job Corps campuses in Maine. It was suggested by the City Manager to have an urgent meeting to address this issue with Northern Maine Development Commission to use  a national accepted economic model to provide the financial impacts it would have on our community. The initial meeting took place on the 22nd of February to gather information needed, attending  was Walt Elish (Executive Director of Aroostook Partnership Progress), Robert Clark( Executive Director of Northern Maine Development Commission, NMDC),  Steven Buck(City Manager of Caribou) and Pamela D. Buck (BCL/WBL of Loring Job Corps Center) they were all eager to move quickly on obtaining data to analyze and compute the economic impact of eliminating Loring Job Corps Center would have on our community.  Mark Hassleman, a National Economist was also on phone conference with us at the same meeting on Friday.

 Our next Meeting was set for Friday 2/25/2011 with our community leaders,  Jim Haguewood an economist consultant will also be joining us with his expertise by phone conference.  It was urged that CSD to release as much information possible to make this working model a successful tool to bring to our community and congressional  leaders to fight for our centers. Along with the initial members that met, this meeting also was attended by Kristie Moir (CD of Loring Job Corps Center), Barbara Hayslett, Representative of Congressman Michael Michaud, Sharon Campbell, Representative of Senator Snowe’s Office and Carl Flora LDA Director.

It was noted by Kristie Moir, The long-term effects clearly impact a training facility that educates and places 75 students per year on average in Maine alone. These are youth that have been trained in skills relevant to the labor market trends in the State for long term growth.

Before our meeting closed it was mentions by our Congressional members for Loring Job Corps Center to deliver “Success Stories” to their offices for them to have on hand for floor debates and to show the impact Job Corps has on our youths they service.