ACT MTMPP Grant Report | Final | July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025
Canadian Visitation Tumbled – Passenger vehicles moving through the Van Buren Land Port of Entry fell by 70 % in March of 2025 compared to February of 2025.
Bilingual Signs Are a Hit – Maine DOT and the Maine Office of Tourism place permanent signage in border communities written in French and English to welcome Canadian Visitors. Starts great conversations on the American side about the seriousness of consumer sentiment.
Maine Eclipse is Recognized – Houlton didn’ t make the eclipse happen, but the organization of community events was awarded by the Maine Office of Tourism with a Governor ' s Award, Rotary awarded the group the Community Service Award.“ A Moment In the Sun” a documentary on the Maine Eclipse won first at the Maine International Film Festival and Maine Outdoor Film Festival
US Bike Route 501 Signs Erected – US Bike Route 501 signs are in place from Bangor to Allagash, a project Maine DOT began in 2020.
The Acadian Village Launches Website & Digital Marketing – This is the first website for the nonprofit cultural organization, and it has built a great front door to welcome visitors to the experience. A new logo, Facebook Page, and website promise to invite more people.
Nordic Heritage Center Closes and Fort Kent Outdoor Center Changes Ownership- Portland’ s Libra Foundation funded and built the facilities in 1999, and continued to pay for its operation until the Presque Isle location closed and was gated on October 1, 2024.
JetBlue Increases Jet Size Flying from 100 to 140 seats- JetBlue will begin serving Presque Isle International Airport( PQI) with an Airbus A220 aircraft on Tuesday, September 2 nd. This aircraft has the largest number of seats Presque Isle has ever had regularly serving the airport
PQI Terminal Broke Ground – The new terminal at PQI I projected to be completed by the fall of 2027.
Aroostook County Tourism Outreach- The ACT Summit and three coffee and tourism events received a lot of participation and buy-in for 2025.
Late Start to Winter Recreation – Winter recreation returned to the region and several new winter trails areas expanded, Nordic Heritage Center Closed, BigRock opened the new quad fast lift, Martin Massicotte of Quebec wins his 11 th Can Am 250, St. Peter’ s Country Store closed due to back to back poor winters, the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center reopens under new management as the Presque Isle Hotel.
Loring Air Force Base Growth Adjusts Tourism – the Loring Arch Hangar has a new tenant that has shut down racing on the runway and rerouted Aroostook County’ s second most visited snowmobile trail. This affects Land Sailing Championships, Land Speed Trials by the Loring Timing Association, and snowmobiling near the Loring Arch Hanger.
Economic contribution from snowmobiling in Maine was down $ 130 million last winter- " It ' s going to be particularly hard in lodging, restaurants,” UMaine Forestry Professor Jessica Leahy said.“ The other big thing that people spend money on is gas at gas stations, but a decent amount of clothing gets purchased while people are traveling."
Aroostook’ s new international bridge named best in North America – Madawaska Town Manager said Madawaska was heavily involved with the planning of the bridge, such as suggesting that its breakdown lanes accommodate snowmobiles, ATVs and bicycle traffic between the countries. He said this will provide a significant boost in tourism.