‘Press Herald’ reports that UNE takes lead in pursuit of voter-approved marine funding
The November 6, 2014 issue of the Portland Press Herald featured an article on the front page of the Business section about UNE’s lead in the pursuit of marine funding, which became available after the recent passage of a $7 million state bond to enhance Maine’s marine industry.
According to the article, UNE is assembling a team that will likely include the Marine Science Program at Southern Maine Community College, the University of Maine’s Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research and Education, the Cobscook Learning Center in Trescott, the Portland kelp harvesting company Ocean Approved and the planned New England Ocean Cluster in Portland.
Barry Costa-Pierce, Ph.D., director of the Marine Science Center and chair of the Department of Marine Sciences, commented on the strength of the team. "If you aggregate Maine’s marine institutions, we are world class," said Costa-Pierce.
The article states that UNE is considering using the money to build a permanent pier on the Saco River and expand its marine laboratories so it can work with industry partners.