Eastern Maine Development Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Provide educational and other economic development services to governments and businesses in eastern Maine
- Income
- $10.5 million
- Spending
- $10.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 87%
- Employees
- 264
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 63% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- Municipal Planning The Municipal Planning Assistance Program MPAP was set up under the Maines Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry. It is implemented through EMDCs Regional Planning Commission RPC. The RPC provides municipal technical assistance services as well as comprehensive plan and land use ordinance development services to all towns within the Penobscot and Piscataquis and some of Waldo Counties. During 2023 the RPC staff provided technical assistance to 14 municipalities ranging from land use queries, ordinance development, code enforcement guidance, and MRSA Title 30-A interpretation. Also included were a range of coastal climate workshops to 13 coastal towns within the Penobscot River estuary. The RPC provided comprehensive planning development services to 5 municipalities totaling 96,500 in contractual services during 2023.
- Program Service Expenses 0, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 Community Development Technical assistance is provided to businesses and communities for planning, business services preparation of business plans, marketing, second stage business planning, loan financing, access to technology, and climate resiliency. A total of 1,157 business and 542 community encounters were performed. The Community Impact Lending department provided technical assistance through a total of 708 encounters and approved 1,715,120 in loans to16 clients. Housing EMDC received a new grant in 2023 to perform a pilot project to assess housing stock and needs. Equity Impact Investments We are working to develop the EMDC Equity Center which will house the immigrant Welcome Center, regional project development, staffing for Piscataquis County economic development and the Recreation Economy for Rural Community program, and a childcare center for those receiving workforce and ESL training by EMDC. Broadband EMDC received 185,000 in funds for Year two of the Regional and Tribal Broadband Partners program.
- Program Service Expenses 0, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 APEX Maine APEX Program The Federal Procurement Technical Assistance Program PTAP was set up under Title 10, United States Code, Chapter 142 in 1985. It is implemented in Maine through the Maine APEX Accelerator Program. Maine APEX is a statewide program which offers procurement technical assistance services to Maine Businesses on issues related to government contracting. During 2023, Maine APEX staff sponsored 38 outreach events, including training workshops, and participated in 63 non-sponsored outreach events. The program also provides one-on-one counseling and a Bid Match service to the 1,217 active clients and supplies them with relevant information about government contracting through newsletters, online training, social media platforms and a website www.maineapex.com. Clients assisted by Maine APEX have reported over 2,459 government prime and subcontract awards worth over 2.359 billion during 2023.
- Program Service Expenses 9,226,958, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 Workforce Services Program EMDC provided an extensive array of workforce development services to economically disadvantaged adults, at-risk youth, dislocated workers, seasonal and migrant farmworkers and individuals re entering the workforce from incarceration and/or substance use disorder recovery services throughout Penobscot, Piscataquis, Washington and Hancock counties. EMDC invested in direct workforce services to 754 individuals through a number of funding programs including US Department of Labors Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act WIOA and US Department of Labors National Dislocated Worker Grant NDWG-Opioid. 85 of the individuals served during the FY23 period were enrolled in our Opioid National Dislocated Worker Grant ONDWG. These services are delivered at no cost to participants who meet the eligibility criteria for the following programs and include Occupational Skills Training, On-the-Job Training OJT, Work Experience, Basic Education Skills, Employability Services and Supportive Services.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1994.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.