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July 27, 2015

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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 21 J U LY 2 7 , 2 0 1 5 grants and local matches. ese were covered by loans obtained from Genesis. e program serves folks earning less than 120% of median area income. Rents range from $550 to $750 a month. "But we found that people earning higher-than-median income are still struggling to fi nd housing and make ends meet because the cost of living on the islands is about 25% greater than the mainland," says Fleming-Ives. On Great Cranberry, CIRT matched its grant with another $245,000 raised through grants and donations, to build two new units. A resident donated 1.2 acres. "It's much more expensive to build on an island than on the mainland," says Whitney. "We thought we'd be able to do everything with just the [state] money. But things added up." After hiring island and regional contractors to clear the land and install a driveway, underground utility lines, and foundations, CIRT contracted with Coastal Builders in Trenton, which in turn subcontracted with New Brunswick-based Prestige Homes to manufacture two 3-bedroom, energy- effi cient modular homes with fi nished interiors. Coastal Builders handled shipping, installation and utility hook- ups. e units arrived in June 2014 and opened for occupancy two months later. CIRT rents the new homes for $750 per month, plus utilities, and the older houses for $600 per month, plus utilities. Below market-rate housing CIRT, which was established in 1996, has a combination of refurbished existing houses and new houses. anks to bond money issued in 2010 for aff ordable housing throughout the state, the island was able to develop two new rental homes in 2014. e Walls and Gaither families moved from Biddeford and from North Carolina, respectively, into the new year-round rentals in the fall. e previous May, Rosalie Kell and her college-aged son moved from nearby Bernard into the Rice House, and the Sumner family arrived from Fancy Gap, Va., to live in the Kane House. "We were looking at everything that was available in the state of Maine, and this was all we could fi nd," says Jennifer Walls. Maine natives, Jennifer and her husband Ben have three chil- dren, ages 10, 12, and 14. eir one-bed- room rental apartment in Biddeford was $800 per month. e landlord sold the building and the Walls family was given 30 days' notice to vacate. Congratulations Dover Foxcroft, Pine Crest, Mayo Mill, LLC and the rest of the project team Consulting Engineers and Scientists Contact Nick Sabatine at the idea-stage: Contact Nick Sabatine at the idea-stage: nsabatine@ransomenv.com \\ 207-772-2891 \\ www.RansomEnv.com D E V E L O P M E N T \ \ D U E D I L I G E N C E D U E D I L I G E N C E \ \ E N V I R O N M E N TA L H E A LT H & S A F E T Y E N V I R O N M E N TA L H E A LT H & S A F E T Y E N V I R O N M E N TA L H E A LT H & S A F E T Y \ \ M U N I C I P A L \ \ U T I L I T Y, E N E R G Y & M A N U F A C T U R I N G U T I L I T Y, E N E R G Y & M A N U F A C T U R I N G F R O M U R B A N TO R U R A L R E D E V E L O P M E NT What will Maine's economy look like a generation from now? Who are the people already shaping that economy? Who's Next? Nominate your candidate for the thirteenth annual Mainebiz Next List We're looking for nominees from the state's business, education and nonprofit sectors — any organization, any size, as long as they're key to the economy to come. We'll profile the 2015 Next List in the October 5th issue. Nominations close on August 24 Visit mainebiz.biz/next for the nomination form. mainebiz.biz/next for the nomination form. mainebiz.biz/next To make a Donation to the Next List Alumni Scholarship Fund through the Maine Community Foundation, visit mainecf.org and click on mainecf.org and click on mainecf.org Make a gift. FOLLOW US @MBEVENTS #MBNextList15 PRESEN T ING SP ONSOR C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E »

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