Maine’s poorest county is researching ways to be less isolated

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 28, 2022

The Eastern Maine Development Corp. and area partners will use more than $445,000 in federal funding to study transportation options that will better connect Piscataquis and Penobscot counties. Transportation is a barrier for many residents in a place like Piscataquis — the poorest and one of the most rural and sparsely populated counties in Maine. The planning studies will assess a variety of options, including new transit routes, telecommuting and innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The studies will explore climate-friendly options with a grant from the Office of Policy and Innovation and the Future as part of planned efforts to fight climate change.