Addressing Barriers To Economic DevelopmentIn Aroostook County

Aroostook Aspirations Initiative754 Main St.

26 North St., Box 138Presque Isle, ME 04769

(207) 760-0558info@gauvinfund.org

Challenges Addressed in the Plimpton Research Report

1. Aging population2. Outmigration of our young people3. Workforce below sustainability level4. College attainment below state level5. 2nd highest poverty level in Maine

This report documents recent trends in educational attainment and economic indicators in Aroostook County compared with Maine and the nation. It provides context from studies within the County and around the state and the country to suggest how County leaders can invest to ensure an economically vibrant future.

Major Findings of the Plimpton Research Report

While the nation’s population has grown by 30% since 1970, Maine’s has increased by only 8%, and Aroostook County’s has declined by

20%.

Aroostook County is losing its young population faster than Maine and many other rural counties in the Northeast. Only 26% of the

population in Aroostook today is younger than age 25, compared with 29% in Maine and 34% in the U.S.

Major Findings of the Plimpton Research Report

Aroostook contains five higher education institutions, which provide plentiful options for Aroostook residents to earn a college degree

without leaving home.

Houlton Higher Education Center

Husson University

Northern Maine Community

College

University of Maine at Fort Kent

University of Maine at

Presque Isle

Major Findings of the Plimpton Research ReportMore than ¼ (27%) of Aroostook’s 51,313 adults aged 25 and older

hold an associate’s or higher degree. Another 21% have some college but no degree.

55,738 51,439 50,983 51,788 51,313

21.1% 24.1% 25.1% 26.5%

12.5% 13.0% 14.6% 16.7% 16.2% 16.9%

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2014

Population age 25+ % with associate degree or higher % with bachelor's degree or higher

Aroostook: Population and Educational Attainment

Major Findings of the Plimpton Research Report

A survey of Aroostook high school and college students conducted about a decade ago found that Aroostook youth have high

educational aspirations. A strong majority of 75% wanted to either stay in the County or move back at some point in the future.

Major Findings of the Plimpton Research Report

In Aroostook, adults without a high school

diploma are nearly twice as likely to live in poverty as those with a diploma.Adults with only a high

school diploma are more than three times as likely as those with a bachelor’s

degree to be poor.

15.8%

7.9%

6.8%

2.5%

27.4%

15.6%

12.4%

4.5%

Less than High School Diploma

High School Diploma

Some college or Associate's Degree

Bachelor's Degree+

Unemployment Rate

Poverty Rate

Aroostook Unemployment and Adult Poverty Rates by Educational Attainment, 2014

Source: American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau

Major Findings of the Plimpton Research ReportOver the past decade in particular, Aroostook’s income growth has

been closely tied to college degree attainment growth.

If the trends in educational attainment and personal income in Aroostook from 2005 to 2014 continue at the same rates for the next nine years, 29% of adults will have an associate’s or higher degree by

2023, but the proportion with a bachelor’s or higher degree will remain around 17%.

How do we continue this positive trend?

Through nonprofit organizations like Aroostook Aspirations Initiative

Aroostook Aspirations Initiative was founded in 2013 to address youth

outmigration and the region’s growing need for an educated

workforce.

AAI awards a scholarship to a graduating senior from each of the

County’s 16 high schools every year, for students who remain in the County for college, and offers leadership events and career-enhancing support programs.

Aroostook Aspiration Initiative’s MissionTo support the educational and career goals of County youth, and to

mobilize the future prosperity of the County.

Testimonial from Amber Hulstrunk2015 Health Services Foundation Gauvin Scholar

“Aroostook Aspirations Initiative isn’t just another scholarship to me. They have been not only my

mentor in achieving skills that would have taken years to learn, but also a kind and generous group

of people that showed me how good it feels to volunteer my time to the community and to

individuals.”

Moving Forward

Investing more to ensure that Aroostook young people can go to college and complete their degrees – and to help them

connect with local career opportunities – is a promising

approach to maintain and improve the County’s

educational attainment and income growth.

Increasing college attainment rates and keeping educated

people in the County can both address the needs of local employers for more skilled

workers and contribute to more new business start-ups and innovation in the County.

Moving Forward

A larger, more highly-skilled workforce, with higher rates of college degree attainment, higher incomes, and lower poverty and

unemployment, is essential to Aroostook’s continued economic health and growth.