Lee Umphrey likes to live in the present, not the past. President and CEO of Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC), Umphrey prefers to discuss the organization’s many initiatives, programs, goals, and what makes EMDC unique among America’s economic development associations.
“Most economic development organizations don’t do workforce development, but we do,” he says. “And we do pretty robust small business lending.”
Headquartered in the City of Bangor, Maine—the home of Stephen King and the backdrop of many of the author’s horror novels—EMDC has served residents and businesses statewide since 1967. Eastern Maine Development Corporation was founded as a private, non-profit organization to create economic opportunities while serving as a trusted liaison and guide, helping towns, businesses, and workers “find economic growth and prosperity while preserving local identity,” says Umphrey.
Taking the long view
Historically, the area was known for industries like shipbuilding, textiles, and lumber, which fell into decline over the decades. Today, rural Maine faces challenges that range from limited investment in infrastructure to population loss and economic transition.
These issues and others see community leaders recognizing the need for EMDC, a regional organization coordinating state and federal resources, supporting long-term planning, and advocating for Maine’s many rural communities. This includes diversifying funding sources and service delivery, which has proven more challenging in recent years.
“EMDC stands out because every team member and every member of our organization, from the CEO down to our workforce specialists, works our roles as though we were all boots on the ground,” says Jennifer King, Chief Operating Officer.
“We all work for the betterment of the communities and to make sure what we’re doing makes a difference. And that’s how every one of us feels about working here; how we share a passion for what we do, as we’re all on the same level. It’s a great organization with everybody working as a team.” Before becoming COO, King served as Director of Planning, a role Umphrey thinks of as “the underpinning of our economic development projects.”
Rather than talk about EMDC’s achievements, Umphrey is set on how to help residents and businesses now and into the future. “I want to be seen as less stodgy,” he says. “Even with our Data Analysis Team, we ask, ‘How do we create data analysis tools that are visually arresting and are going to catch people’s eyes?’ As an old guy, I’m trying to make us seem younger and smarter,” he laughs.
“It’s an organization about the future, so we have an emphasis on youth development programs in the workforce, and we’re trying to be more innovative. When new things come up, I want us to be the first to try them. Right now, we’re all wrestling with artificial intelligence and how we can apply AI to make us better.”
Lending a helping hand
“I’ve been here seven years, and it’s been a focus for us to have some kindness, humanity, empathy, and understanding that people face challenges, especially in rural Maine,” Umphrey shares. “We don’t have public transportation. Access to affordable healthcare is hard. There are not many jobs, and over the years, jobs have been lost. Paper mills have closed. There’s a reason Stephen King, who lives in Bangor, is able to write what he does, because he’s been surrounded by people and problems and how you rise above them, above all this adversity.”
Known for its striking natural beauty, rural Maine is also challenged with long, brutally cold winters that can see up to 110 inches (280 cm) of snow every year. In the face of the weather and challenges like unemployment, access to basic needs like food and childcare, and the opioid crisis, EMDC strives to serve as a conduit to various community programs. These include workforce development initiatives, the Agriculture Workforce Program, the Jail Diversion Workforce Program, providing business services and technical assistance, and many other initiatives.
Illustrated by George Danby, Maine’s preeminent editorial cartoonist, the cover of its 2025 Annual Report depicts the bridging role of EMDC. Silhouetted figures on either side of a cliff are moving toward the chasm, but in the center, a massive, upstretched hand is ready to catch and support them so they can keep moving. “That’s the theme of what we do,” Umphrey tells us. But, he says, things have changed recently.
“When I started here, it was too top-down. Organizations like ours get caught up with Chambers of Commerce and tend to be self-congratulatory. Now, we try to be more hands-on.”
Facing challenges
The Federal Government’s constant changing of perspective has created uncertainty among many agencies across the United States, and economic development has felt the impact. Nevertheless, EMDC has stood behind its Community Resilience Partnership program for years, identifying opportunities to reduce energy use and transition to clean power, boost access to electric vehicle charging, and prepare for severe weather events.
While many of EMDC’s goals for 2026 remain unchanged, they are now described differently. The Federal Government has sent agencies a list of words they should not use. Every Federal program is under scrutiny, and to combat this, the organization created a compliance team and a data analysis team.
“EMDC, with the creation of the data analysis and compliance teams, is continuously building internal capacity and positioning the region to effectively compete for federal and state investments tied to infrastructure and workforce development,” Umphrey explains. These teams will measure and record the impact they make, and if cuts are proposed, they will be armed with the information and data to make their case.
“EMDC’s 2026 objectives include accelerating service delivery across the workforce, lending, planning, and business support, while strengthening data-driven decision-making and expanding programs that directly address workforce shortages and housing constraints,” adds Umphrey. “A core organizational priority focuses on program performance consistently matching spending, demonstrating measurable outcomes.”
During his time at Eastern Maine Development Corporation, Umphrey says the emphasis has been people first; under the current federal administration, there is more emphasis on business. While this has seen EMDC shift somewhat, its mission and motives remain the same. “We are trying not to lose any integrity in who we are, and keep on doing things with kindness and competency,” he says, adding that terms like ‘climate resiliency’ and words such as ‘equality’ are being discouraged by Washington. “So we are trying to soften that description, but the actions are still the same.”
As President and CEO, part of Umphrey’s job is to liaise with the federal government and congress to protect EMDC and its programs. In addition, the organization works closely with Maine’s Governor, Janet T. Mills. “A lot of our programs are state-funded and need the approval of the Governor, and we work very closely as a true partner with the Governor of the State of Maine,” he says. “We work equally closely with our Congressional delegation, especially Senator Susan Collins and Senator Angus King,” he adds.
Taking on rural prosperity
Indeed, Eastern Maine Development Corporation administers myriad state and federal programs aimed at revitalizing communities and businesses to create jobs. “We support municipalities through community planning, infrastructure readiness, technology fluency, and project development efforts that position towns to secure and manage outside investment,” says Umphrey.
“As the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) Local Development District (LDD), and certified by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development District (EDD), EMDC helps communities identify, design, and advance projects to strengthen infrastructure, workforce capacity, and local economies,” he continues. “This work is reinforced through workforce development programs administered under the U.S. Department of Labor’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), including career navigation, training support, and apprenticeships that help individuals move into sustainable employment.”
In addition, EMDC’s lending program provides access to funding sources for local small businesses. This is executed in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration and others, says Umphrey: “EMDC is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) organization, helping to empower rural Maine in finding resources. We support the economic development of the region’s former paper mill sites and all communities in attracting new businesses. Working directly with municipalities and local businesses, EMDC’s impact lending efforts make us a leader of community-driven change.”
The organization’s support for workforce programs is unique, as it targets specific areas. These include agriculture, criminal justice, and the Dairy Workforce Program, to name a few, and focus on specific sectors critical to rural economic resilience. “Maine, like all states, is challenged by finding quality, prepared workers,” says Umphrey, so EMDC’s workforce programs partner with local and state entities including community colleges, universities, adult education providers, and others to create training paths for workers to attain the credentials to find and keep jobs.
“Programs focused on agriculture, the dairy industry, and on individuals impacted by the criminal justice system respond directly to employer needs while expanding access to opportunity for our workforce,” Umphrey explains. These targeted approaches can help stabilize essential industries, reduce barriers to employment, and ensure that workforce investments translate into real economic outcomes for communities.
“In partnership with the Maine Department of Labor, we collaborate on various programs to reach potential workers who have overcome intense barriers, including incarceration, substance abuse, food insecurity, homelessness, and gaining access to affordable housing and healthcare.”
Ready for anything
Being open to untried new programs has long been a hallmark of EMDC’s success. “If the state is going to try a new program, we are an organization they will reach out to to do it,” says Umphrey. “And as long as we feel we have the capacity—and it’s going to help people—we will do it.” adds Jennifer King.
As a community-based organization, EMDC values distinct local approaches that are nimble and effective. In the coming years, Umphrey says the organization will become even stronger by leveraging resources “and further integrating services to provide comprehensive solutions to economic distress and opportunities—the uncertainty of the actions in Washington, shutting down the government, making draconian cuts, and infringing on state rights, particularly the protection of civil and human rights.”
By further integrating its services and expanding staff expertise, EMDC intends to launch additional programs that will respond to emerging workforce and community needs. “Our vision is to remain a trusted and reliable regional partner that combines planning, financing, and workforce solutions to create public value while helping rural Maine communities thrive in an increasingly complex economic environment,” says Umphrey.
“We are in this for the long haul, committed to cultivating and promoting resiliency, recovery, and prosperity.”
