Provides funds for the department to enter into contracts for 2 people to serve as field representatives in currently underserved and economically depressed areas.

Forum Francophone

All Other $50,000 $50,000

Provides funds to support the Forum Francophone.

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ________ ________

TOTAL $412,600 $254,090

LEGISLATURE

Legislature

All Other $15,000 $15,000

Provides funds for annual legislative summits with legislative leaders from the Quebec and New Brunswick provinces.

LEGISLATURE ______ ______

TOTAL $15,000 $15,000

TOTAL ________ ________

APPROPRIATIONS $927,600 $769,090

SUMMARY

The bill provides a General Fund appropriation of $500,000 in each year of the biennium to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to market Maine agricultural products.

The bill also provides funds to the Department of Economic and Community Development for several new initiatives. They include: funding for annual legislative summits with leaders from Quebec and New Brunswick; the establishment of trade and