Rural communities in Western Maine are rich with incredible outdoor assets like trails, forests, and rivers, as well as people and communities who care deeply about their region’s future. Through the Maine West Collaborative, facilitated by the Center, local partners and communities in the region work together to improve community viability.

Maine West partners from the education, health, conservation, and economic development sectors come together to better understand persistent rural challenges and innovate solutions. For Maine West, innovation means tapping into the region’s assets and strengths to test new ideas and attract capacity and resources to sustain those programs and systems that work.