Table of Contents

Executive Summary...... 1

A Special Thanks Major Findings...... 1 To Our Sustaining Strategic Partners Context and Population Trends...... 3 Educational Attainment Trends...... 4

Migration Patterns...... 7

Rural Economic Development...... 8

Conclusion...... 12

Sources...... 13

About Aroostook Aspirations Initiative...... 15

About Plimpton Research...... 15

“The goals and aspirations of our young people are tied to the future prosperity of Aroostook County.” ~ Sandy Gauvin, Founder, Aroostook Aspirations Initiative Executive Summary Major Findings

Aroostook County leaders are Context and Population Trends rightfully concerned about • Aroostook, the largest county in the eastern outmigration, particularly United States, makes up almost 20% of Maine’s land area. While the nation’s population among youth. Employers has grown by 30% since 1970, Maine’s has worry about who will replace increased by only 8%, and Aroostook County’s the region’s aging workforce, has declined by 20%. as economic developers • Aroostook County is losing its young work to diversify the area’s population faster than Maine and many other employment base in the wake rural counties in the Northeast. Only 26% of the population in Aroostook today is younger than of changes in the region’s age 25, compared with 29% in Maine and 34% traditional industries of forest in the U.S. products and agriculture. • Aroostook contains five higher education Aroostook has many unique institutions, which provide plentiful options for strengths to build on. By Aroostook residents to earn a college degree making strategic investments without leaving home. • Aroostook Aspirations Initiative was founded to capitalize on these strengths in 2013 to address youth outmigration and and to bolster already growing the region’s growing need for an educated educational attainment and workforce. AAI awards a scholarship to a incomes, Maine’s largest graduating senior from each of the County’s county can ensure its sixteen high schools every year, for students economic health in the coming who remain in the County for college, and offers leadership events and career-enhancing years and decades. support programs. Its mission is to support the educational and career goals of County youth, This report documents and to mobilize the future prosperity of the recent trends in educational County. attainment and economic indicators in Aroostook County Educational Attainment, Careers, and Economic Indicators compared with Maine and • More than one-quarter (27%) of Aroostook’s the nation. It provides context 51,313 adults aged 25 and older hold an from studies within the County associate’s or higher degree, and another 21% and around the state and the have some college but no degree. country to suggest how County • Since 2005, the proportion of Aroostook adults leaders can invest to ensure an with an associate’s or higher degree grew by 10%, but the proportion with a bachelor’s or economically vibrant future. higher degree has remained stagnant between 16% and 17%. • High school graduation, college enrollment, and college completion rates in Aroostook are higher than the Maine averages.

1 • A survey of Aroostook high school and college economic development investments on building students conducted about a decade ago found on their existing strengths and ensuring that that Aroostook youth have high educational they provide five key elements: strong small aspirations, and that while the majority would schools, social capital, high speed internet like to leave the County for college, a strong service, access to nature, and a quality majority of 75% wanted to either stay in the environment. County or move back at some point in the • Researchers at the Southern Rural Development future. Center studied economic growth of • The same study found that health services, metropolitan and non-metro areas across the education, and business/professional services U.S. from 1980 to 2000, and concluded that were the most common types of jobs that “job opportunities for the highly educated are Aroostook high school and college students becoming more available in rural areas. The were seeking, and that many college-bound key for sustainable economic growth…is to youth were interested in starting their own raise the quality of local labor to handle new businesses (Colgan and Andrews). technologies. Non-metro communities must • In Aroostook, per-capita income grew by 67% find the means to increase the share of college- from 1995 to 2005, then the rate of growth educated workers in their labor force” (Barkley over the past decade slowed to 27%. Over the et al). past decade in particular, Aroostook’s income • A recent synthesis of national data on growth has been closely tied to college degree postsecondary educational attainment similarly attainment growth. concluded that “in order to thrive, rural • If the trends in educational attainment and communities must be able to compete for the personal income in Aroostook from 2005 development of new high-skill jobs to replace to 2014 continue at the same rates for the the loss of low-skill work… Growing the next nine years, 29% of adults will have an number of rural residents with postsecondary associate’s or higher degree by 2023, but the education is a necessary condition” (Schiess proportion with a bachelor’s or higher degree and Rotherham). will remain around 17%. Implications Rural Economic Development • Investing in Aroostook’s young people— • A recent national study of rural U.S. counties ensuring that they can go to college, complete found that the minority that have not lost degrees, and find good-paying work in the area population since 2010 are primarily located and in their desired career fields—paired with in scenic or energy boom regions, while the efforts to diversify the economy and build on 1,300 rural counties losing population are other existing strengths is a promising strategy widespread in regions that depend on farming, for building the County’s economic prosperity. manufacturing, or resource extraction (USDA). • Aroostook Aspirations Initiative can address • Nebraska’s Center for Rural Affairs argues that stalled bachelor’s degree attainment in the economic opportunity—paired with “quality County. AAI’s goal of expanding its scholarship of place” or less tangible aspects of being a to serve more students and its approach of desirable place to live—is essential to retaining tying scholarship aid with career-building and attracting people to rural communities. support programs are targeted squarely to needs They encourage rural communities to focus Aroostook must address.

2 Context and Population Trends

Known in Maine as “The County,” Aroostook under age 30 declined by more than half from County is the largest and northern-most county 1970 to 2000. Today, only 26% of Aroostook’s in the eastern United States. Aroostook is known population is under age 25, compared with 29% for forestry, agricultural production—particularly in Maine and 34% nationwide. potatoes and broccoli—and Acadian culture. The County has strong ties with its neighboring The list of current concerns in Aroostook is Canadian provinces of Quebec and New topped by the aging workforce, and uncertainty Brunswick, while it is remote from the rest of about whether enough qualified replacement Maine. The stereotypical Aroostook resident is workers will be available. This is tied to resilient, strong-willed, and hard-working. Aroostook’s perennial concern about losing young people to other parts of Maine and other Aroostook has several unusual characteristics for a states. At the same time, County leaders are rural county. It has Maine’s highest proportion of working to diversify the economic base, attract Native Americans (1.7% in 2010), and the highest businesses and employers to the area, and proportion of foreign-born residents (4.7%). Most encourage and support home-grown business importantly for this report, there are five higher creation (Lynds). education institutions and one higher education center located in Aroostook: Husson University, Aroostook County has several promising Northern Maine Community College, University organizations and projects, including the of Maine campuses in Fort Kent and Presque Isle, Aroostook Aspirations Initiative. Founded in and the Houlton Higher Education Center. These 2013 in order to address the demographic and institutions make it possible for Aroostook residents economic issues discussed in this report, AAI to earn a college degree without leaving home. provides a competitive $2,000 scholarship Several of the colleges have notable partnerships award to a graduating senior from each of with local schools to provide early college and dual the County’s sixteen high schools every year. enrollment credit-bearing courses to Aroostook Students must remain in the County for college high school students at low or no cost. in order to be eligible for scholarship support. AAI’s mission is to support the educational and Today, a little less than one half of one percent career goals of County youth, and to mobilize of the nation’s population lives in Maine, and the future prosperity of the County. In addition to about 5% of Mainers live in Aroostook County. scholarship support, AAI offers leadership events Aroostook, with an area of 6,829 square miles, and career-enhancing support programs such as makes up almost 20% of Maine’s 35,385 square an internship hub, entrepreneurship training, and miles. While the nation’s population has grown by mentoring from area leaders. To date, 96% of 30% since 1970, Maine’s has increased by only 8%, AAI scholarship recipients have graduated from and Aroostook County’s has declined by 20%. college, and 75% have stayed in Aroostook after college. AAI’s current goal is to significantly Aroostook County’s population was at its expand the scholarship program in order to highest—over 106,000 people—in 1960, and further contribute to a better educated local has since dropped by about one-third to 69,447 workforce, enable more young people to stay in people in 2014. Colgan and Andrews reported the County, support future business leaders, and in 2004 that Aroostook County’s population ultimately contribute to economically vibrant loss from 1960 to 2000 was the largest of any local communities. county in New England, and that the population

3 Educational Attainment Trends

In 2014, just over one-quarter (27%) of While college educational attainment in the Aroostook County’s 51,313 adults over age 24 County is more than ten points below the held an associate’s or higher degree, and 17% Maine average, it grew steadily from 1990 to held a bachelor’s or higher degree. Aroostook 2005. Since 2005, the proportion of Aroostook is home to 10,274 adults with some college adults with an associate’s or higher degree grew education but no degree, almost as many as the from 24% to 26.5%, but the proportion with 11,032 adults with an associate’s or bachelor’s a bachelor’s or higher degree has remained degree. stagnant between 16% and 17%.

Aroostook: Population and Educational Attainment

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

Maine: Population and Educational Attainment

947,959 929,301 899,563 869,893 35.5% 37.7% 30.2% 34.8% 795,613 22.9% 25.7% 26.6% 28.4% 18.8% 21.5%

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2014 Population age 25+ % with associate degree or higher % with bachelor’s degree or higher

4 United States: Population and Educational Attainment 199,726,659 209,056,129 182,211,639 188,950,759 155,598,000

35.4% 37.2% 30.7% 34.6% 30.6% 27.9% 29.3% 24.4% 27.2% 20.8%

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2014 Population age 25+ % with associate degree or higher % with bachelor’s degree or higher

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

College-Going, Persistence, and Completion graduates than all other superintendent regions High school graduation rates in Aroostook are except Washington. For example, only 78% of higher than in Maine as a whole, averaging Aroostook’s college enrollees from the classes of 88% in 2013 compared with a state average 2011 and 2012 returned for the third semester of of 86% (Maine Department of Education). college, compared with a Maine average of 83%. And unlike most rural superintendent regions, Among students who enroll in college within Aroostook has one of Maine’s highest rates of two years after high school graduation, 58% of high school graduates enrolling in college: 64% Aroostook residents complete a degree within six in 2014, compared with a Maine average of years, higher than the state average of 57%, but 62%. Persistence to the second year of college, lower than the Cumberland region’s rate of 62%, however, is lower among Aroostook high school as shown in the following charts.

“The future of our region is our youth. Our duty as business leaders is to pursue ways that will entice them to stay in the County and grow their future here. Aroostook Aspiration’s incentive certainly personifies this philosophy. WAGM is proud to support Aroostook Aspiration as they encourage and guide our youth on their journey into adulthood and showing them that they do not need to leave the area to make a living and raise a family.” ~ Kelly Landeen, Vice President and General Manager, WAGM-TV

5 Colgan and Andrews conducted College Enrollment in the Fall 2014 High School Graduating Class an extensive survey of Aroostook Cumberland 68% County high school and college

Aroostook 64% students in 2004. They learned that the vast majority of students Hancock 62% planned to continue their York 62% education after high school, and Maine 62% that most would leave Aroostook

Washington 61% for college “if there were no barriers in the way.” The primary Penquis 60% reasons students cited for Western 60% wanting to leave Aroostook were Kennebec 58% finding more job opportunities

Mid-Coast 52% (88%) and the desire to live in a different location (77%). College Persistence to the Third Semester 2012 High School Graduating Class Three-quarters (75%) of students Cumberland 88% surveyed, however, indicated York 85% that they would like to stay in or return to Aroostook at some Maine 83% point in the future. In terms of Hancock 82% educational expectations, 70% Penquis 82% of the students expected to Western 82% complete a bachelor’s degree and another 12% expected Mid-Coast 80% to earn a community college Kennebec 79% degree, demonstrating the Aroostook 78% high educational aspirations of Washington 75% County students.

Six-Year College Completion, 2008 High School Graduating Class Cumberland 62% “Aroostook County is a Kennebec 58% place where regardless Aroostook 58% of the time I am away, it Maine 57% is always home. It instills Penquis 56% in each us a sense of York 53% important values that we

Mid-Coast 53% come to appreciate more

Western 52% and more with time.”

Hancock 50% ~ Dana Connors, President, Maine State Washington 49% Chamber of Commerce

Sources: Maine Department of Education, Mitchell Institute, National Student Clearinghouse

6 Migration Patterns

Population trends are influenced by both natural (Sapra). In recent years, Maine high school graduates change—the number of births and deaths—and have been staying in state for college at higher rates. migration. Colgan and Andrews did an in-depth Statewide, more than two-thirds—71%—of college- analysis of Internal Revenue Service data to going high school graduates enrolled in a Maine examine migration trends to and from Aroostook institution in 2014, up from 67% in 2006 and 46% County from 1995 to 2002. They found that a on 1995 (Trostel 2002). The proportion of college- majority of residents moving out of Aroostook bound students choosing a Maine institution varies County left Maine, but 48% stayed in Maine. by region, with a low of 53% of Cumberland high Overall, 6,482 Aroostook county residents moved school graduates choosing Maine institutions and a to a different Maine county between 1995 and high of 94% of Washington County college enrollees 2002, and 6,916 moved to a different state in the staying in Maine. Aroostook’s proportion of college U.S. Among Aroostook out-migrants who remained enrollees staying in Maine, 91%, is the second- in Maine, Penobscot County was the most popular highest (Mitchell Institute). destination, followed by Cumberland and York Counties. Rural areas may be more likely to lose college students to other regions and states after From 2000 to 2010, a more recent analysis of they finish college. “Interstate migration of IRS data shows that a pattern of net in-migration college graduates can cause some state and to Aroostook County from 2001 to 2007 has local investments in college students to end reversed, and the County experienced a net out- up creating fiscal benefits in other states (of migration of about 500 people from 2007 to 2010 course, the same can be said for state and local (Mattingly and Schaefer). investments in primary and secondary students). A state’s production of college graduates does Nationwide, the rural population increased from not necessarily have corresponding impact on natural change by 230,000 from 2010 to 2014, but the state’s college attainment. Thus, the fiscal this increase did not make up for net out-migration return on a state’s investment in higher education of 346,000 people. Aroostook and all of Maine’s is reduced by the extent of the net interstate other rural counties lost population during those migration of its college graduates” (Trostel 2007). years, but about 700 of the nation’s rural counties Nationwide, the average state loses 7% of the gained population. “These counties are concentrated people who earned bachelor’s degrees to other in scenic areas such as the Rocky Mountains or states. southern Appalachia, or in energy boom regions such as in the northern Great Plains. The 1,300 rural The Colgan and Andrews survey found that health counties losing population since 2010 are widespread services, education, and business/ professional in regions dependent on farming, manufacturing, or services were the most common types of jobs that resource extraction” (USDA). It seems that natural Aroostook high school and college students were beauty, tourism, and a diversified economic and seeking, and that many college-bound youth were employment base are key factors that help rural interested in starting their own business. The authors counties keep and attract more young people. concluded that “The long-term answer to youth out-migration lies in responding to…the desire of High School and College Students youth to get higher education and their expectation A national study found that higher family incomes that they will use that education to build careers with and academic test scores are the factors most strongly higher incomes. This speaks well to the aspirations correlated with students leaving their home states to of Aroostook youth. The challenge is to provide an attend college. Students from the Northeast region of economy that meets those aspirations.” the U.S. are the most likely to out-migrate for college

7 Rural Economic Development

The disparity in educational attainment between A recent study of seven successful small towns and Aroostook County and Maine as a whole cities across the U.S. reaches similar conclusions. is reflected across the nation; educational Common strategies in those communities include: attainment in rural areas is significantly lower identifying and building on existing assets such as than in urban and metropolitan communities. A natural beauty and outdoor recreation; engaging all recent analysis of national data on postsecondary members of the community to plan for the future; educational opportunity points out that “This capitalizing on outside funding; creating incentives gap has enormous implications for the economic for redevelopment and encouraging investment; health of rural communities themselves. The encouraging cooperation within the community shift in the U.S. economy away from lower- and across the region; and supporting a clean and skilled work is in some ways more acute in rural healthy environment (US EPA). communities, where manufacturing has become The Impacts of Educational Attainment increasingly capital-intensive—moving away from the employment of low-skilled labor— Educational attainment is strongly correlated with and where agricultural production has seen a range of economic indicators. A recent study of a comparable evolution through technology. the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas found The impact of this phenomenon is twofold: that adding one year of college to the average it reduces the number of jobs available in educational attainment of a regional workforce existing rural industries to individuals without increases GDP per capita by 17.4%, and wages per advanced education beyond high school, and it worker by 8.4% (DeVol et al). disadvantages rural communities in attracting Examining county economic growth and investment from the growing proportion of development from 1980 to 2000, another study industries requiring a higher-skilled workforce.” found that, in non-metro areas, a five percentage The authors conclude that “in order to thrive, point increase in adults attending college resulted rural communities must be able to compete for in average increases of 3.5% ($436) in per capita the development of new high-skill jobs to replace income and 5.5% (150 additional employees) the loss of low-skill work… Growing the number in employment growth. The authors conclude, of rural residents with postsecondary education is “Job opportunities for the highly educated are a necessary condition” (Schiess and Rotherham). becoming more available in rural areas. The key for sustainable economic growth…is to raise the The Center for Rural Affairs, headquartered in quality of local labor to handle new technologies. Nebraska, argues that economic opportunity— Nonmetro communities must find the means to paired with “quality of place” or less tangible increase the share of college-educated workers in aspects of being a desirable place to live—is their labor force” (Barkley et al.). essential to retaining and attracting people to rural communities. They encourage rural Education also mitigates economic hardship for communities to focus economic development individuals and communities. In Aroostook, adults investments on building on their existing without a high school diploma are nearly twice as strengths and ensuring that they provide five key likely to live in poverty as those with a diploma, elements: strong small schools, social capital, and adults with only a high school diploma are high speed internet service, access to nature, and more than three times as likely as those with a a quality environment. “Making our communities bachelor’s degree to be poor. The differences in better places to live is one of the critical factors unemployment rates by educational attainment are in enhancing their future,” they contend. also large, as shown in the following chart.

8 Aroostook Unemployment and Adult Poverty Rates by Educational Attainment, 2014

15.8% Less than High School Diploma 27.4%

7.9% High School Diploma 15.6% Unemployment Rage 6.8% Some College or Associate’s Degree 12.4% Poverty Rate 2.5% Bachelor’s Degree+ 4.5%

Source: American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau Personal Income As discussed above, a primary benefit to 2005, then the rate of growth over the past decade individuals and communities of increased slowed to 27%. In the state of Maine, per-capita educational attainment is higher earnings and income grew by 58% from 1995 to 2005 and income. Per-capita income is reported annually 26% from 2005 to 2014. Aroostook’s rate of by the U.S. Census Bureau, and these data allow growth in per-capita income over the past decade for tracking and comparisons over time down to in particular has been very closely tied to the the county and metro area levels. In Aroostook, growth in college degree attainment, as shown in per-capita income grew by 67% from 1995 to the following chart.

Educational Attainment & Per-Capita Income, 1990-2014 $35,814 $33,142 $28,147

$21,749

$16,824 26.5% 25.1% 24.1% $10,449 21.1% 16.7% 16.2% 16.9% 14.6% 12.5% 13.0%

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2014

Adults with associate’s or high degree Adults with bachelor’s or higher degree Per capita personal income

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

9 Public Revenues on average. “Lifetime total state and local A more educated population means both taxes increase by an average of nearly $55,000 significantly higher public revenues and lower per associate’s degree, more than $118,000 public costs. College-educated adults pay about per bachelor’s degree, more than $62,000 per one-third more than those with high school master’s degree, and more than $137,000 for each diplomas in property, sales and excise taxes, professional and doctorate degree” (Trostel).

Student Debt One potential downside of college education is student loan debt. As college costs have grown faster than family resources, there has been a marked growth in student debt levels. The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston recently produced a map of student debt levels by county across New England. As shown below, about 40% of young adults in Aroostook have student debt, a higher rate than Maine’s other rural counties with the exception of Penobscot, but lower than the southern counties. The average loan amount in Aroostook, $18,000, is lower than most other counties, perhaps because many students in Aroostook save on costs and borrow less by attending one of the institutions within the County. Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston 2015

10 Spillover Effects up in rural counties like Aroostook is associated Increased educational attainment has other with many hands-on skills that are particularly positive “spillover effects” that are difficult valuable in the knowledge-based economy when to quantify in strict economic terms and that paired with college education. county-level statistics do not address, but that provide additional benefits to the states, counties, Projections and communities where college-educated adults From 2005 to 2014, the proportion of Aroostook live and work. These effects are not quantified adults with an associate’s or higher degree grew in the studies reviewed here. Examples include by 2.4 points or 10%, slightly faster than the job creation, increased consumption, and Maine average (8%), and per-capita income in workforce flexibility (Holman), as well as Aroostook also grew slightly faster than in Maine “increases in productivity among all workers due as a whole. If these trends continue at the same to the sharing of knowledge and skills across rate for the next nine years, 29% of Aroostook workers and from shifts in the industrial mix to adults will have an associate’s or higher degree knowledge-based activities. These productivity by 2023, and per-capita income will grow to gains translate into higher output and earnings $45,569, as shown in the following chart. for all workers” (Hoffman and Rex). Growing

Educational Attainment & Per-Capita Income: Projections to 2023

60% $60,000 $51,387

50% $45,569 $50,000 $35,814 40% $33,142 $40,000 $32,307 $28,147 30% $30,000

20% 24.1% 34.8% 26.5% 37.7% 29.1% 40.8% $20,000 Per-Capita Income Per-Capita

10% $10,000

Adults with Associate’s or Highter Degree or Highter Adults with Associate’s 0% $0 2005 2014 2023 Aroostook Maine

Source: Plimpton Research calculations with data from the American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau

11 Conclusion

The recent rates of increase in educational Aroostook County—with its attainment and per-capita income in unique geographic location, Aroostook, however, would have to accelerate strong educational institutions, significantly in order to get the County and high-aspiring youth—is closer to the state averages. And there is well-positioned with many no guarantee that historical rates of growth strengths that other rural will continue. Finally, the lack of growth in bachelor’s degree attainment since 2005 communities lack. It also faces is of concern for Aroostook. Programs like the challenges of diversifying its Aroostook Aspirations Initiative, with its economic base, stemming the approach of helping students who stay in the tide of population outmigration, County pay for college and connecting them and addressing an aging with job opportunities in the region, can jump- workforce. Investing more to start this growth, particularly if it can expand to serve more eligible students. 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 “At Cary Medical Center we income growth. Increasing understand that the children are college attainment rates and our future. This is particularly true keeping educated young people in health care with the need for in the County can both address nurses, doctors, and other health the needs of local employers care specialists in great demand. for more skilled workers and We welcome the opportunity to contribute to more new business support Aroostook Aspirations, a start-ups and innovation in program that helps educate our the County. A larger, more young people, right here in the highly-skilled workforce, with County and provides internships higher rates of college degree to acquaint students with health attainment, higher incomes, career opportunities.” and lower poverty and ~ Kris Doody, CEO, unemployment, is essential to Cary Medical Center Aroostook’s continued economic health and growth.

12 Sources

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13 Lynds, Jen (February 3, 2016), “Aroostook Partnership for Progress survey prepares for workforce dip,” Bangor Daily News. Accessed from http://bangordailynews.com/2016/02/03/ news/aroostook/aroostook-partnership-for-progress-survey-prepares-for-workforce-dip-2/

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14 About Aroostook Aspirations Initiative

Founders Ray and Sandy Gauvin launched the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative program in 2013. Funded initially by the Gauvin Fund, Aroostook Aspirations Initiative and its allies are dedicated to helping the young students of Aroostook County, Maine, realize their dreams of attending and completing college and finding successful careers. The program is designed to help stem the outmigration of youth from the County and boost the Northern Maine economy.

AAI works extensively with businesses, superintendents, principals, guidance directors, and teachers to ensure that all students are aware of college opportunities in Aroostook County. Each year, Aroostook Aspirations Initiative awards college scholarships and grants to students across the county to help them pay for college expenses. In addition, AAI has created several support programs to ensure successful college completion for the scholars. Aroostook Aspirations Initiative is dedicated to the education, inspiration and leadership of the future generations of Aroostook County youth.

About Plimpton Research

Based in South Portland, Maine, Plimpton Research specializes in collaborative research design, quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis, and reporting. Lisa Plimpton brings 20 years of policy-oriented research experience to her consulting practice. Skilled at collecting data and combining quantitative and qualitative analysis to provide context, insight, and direction, Lisa has a knack for translating data into meaningful information and communicating findings clearly to broad audiences. Plimpton Research offers a range of research consulting services to Maine nonprofit, public, and education organizations of all sizes.

Aroostook Aspirations Initiatives commissioned Plimpton Research to research and author this report. Lisa Plimpton conducted the data collection, analysis, and literature review. Our staffs worked closely together to shape the narrative and the final product.

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