LIMESTONE, Maine — A Maine legislative committee has advanced a proposal to provide funding to an authority tasked with redevelopment of a former Air Force base.
Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, a Democrat from Allagash, proposed fast-tracking funding to the Loring Development Authority. The authority manages the former Loring Air Force Base in Limestone.
The Maine Legislature’s Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business unanimously approved the proposal Feb. 18. Jackson said the proposal is designed to allow the development authority to get access to money to make it through the coronavirus pandemic and continue working to revitalize the former base.
The base is a 3,700-acre business, commercial and industrial park that has a 1,600-acre aviation complex. The authority is a landlord for businesses at the site. There are more than two dozen businesses at the facility and about 800 workers.
The proposal will face more votes before the full Maine Legislature.