FORT KENT, Maine — Officials with the world-class nordic ski facilities in Fort Kent and Presque Isle are concerned many people still believe they are financially linked to the Maine Winter Sports Center or its fundraising campaign.
That belief is creating headaches for the two Aroostook County venues, which are raising their own funds to supplement the financial support they each receive from Portland-based Libra Foundation.
When the Libra Foundation announced last year it was ending its 15-year financial partnership with the Maine Winter Sports Center, the two nordic ski facilities were spun off into their own entities, owned by the Libra-funded Pineland Farms and operated by local boards of directors.
At the same time, Caribou-based Maine Winter Sports Center split off on its own to continue its work training competitive skiers, though the organization still uses the training facilities in Fort Kent and Presque Isle.
Maine Winter Sports Center is responsible for finding its own funding sources and last month announced it had received $5 million from Presque Isle native Mary Barton Akeley Smith to kick off a $20 million endowment campaign.
None of that endowment money or any funds raised by Maine Winter Sports Center will go to the Fort Kent Outdoor Center, formerly the 10th Mountain Ski Center, or the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle.
But that’s the first thing that comes up when Carl Theriault, vice president of Fort Kent Outdoor Center, speaks to potential donors and sponsors.
“It has caused some confusion,” Theriault said. “They see that Maine Winter Sports just got a sizable donation, and they wonder why we need more money.”
Both nordic ski venues will continue to receive $50,000 each from the Libra Foundation annually but must raise any additional operating and capital funds on their own, according to Theriault.
In Fort Kent, Theriault said the center is looking to corporate and business sponsorship in addition to funds generated through a membership drive, equipment rentals and hosting profitable events, such as next weekend’s New England Nordic Ski Association U16 Championships, to make up the difference.
At the same time, the Fort Kent center has moved from hosting large, international nordic events to smaller scale races and programs.
“We need to change the focus from spandex and biathlon to community activities,” Theriault said. “I believe we can do really well hosting regional events that do not take such a massive commitment from the community.”
Fort Kent has hosted several World Cup Biathlon and international ski events over the last 15 years, requiring the involvement of hundreds of local volunteers.
Presque Isle has hosted its fair share of international events and is starting to gear up to host a stop on the 2016 World Cup Biathlon circuit, according to Nordic Heritage Center President Paul Towle, who Friday said the split from MWSC has had little impact on the center.
“We will still be doing everything we have been doing,” he said. “The only difference is the money flow.”
For now, the Presque Isle center is relying on the expected revenue from hosting the 2016 World Cup event to supplement the Libra funds.
Towle and Theriault said their boards are committed to keeping the venues open and accessible to the community as centers of outdoor activities to promote healthy lifestyles.
It’s that commitment which will keep Libra involved for the foreseeable future, Craig Denekas, foundation president, said.
“We like what is happening up there and are really impressed with both groups,” he said. “What they are doing is great for their communities, and that is something we will continue to support.”
Hours of operation and equipment rental information is available on both centers’ websites at fortkentoc.org and nordicheritagecenter.org.
