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Cobscook Community Learning Center

Entrepreneur: Alan Furth

Address:

RR1, Box 3640
Lubec, ME 04652

Telephone: (207) 733-5591
Email: alan@thecclc.org

Grant Amount: $15,000 (2002); $150,000 (2008)

Mission Statement

The Cobscook Community Learning Center's mission is to enrich the lives of local community members through grassroots collaboration using the arts, the rich social fabric, and the natural surroundings as the medium.

Purpose of Grant

1. (2002 - $15,000) This is a feasibility and business planning grant to examine the feasibility of the Cobscook Bay Chowder Company - a for-profit subsidiary to create employment opportunities for residents and an income stream to support the CCLC's public purpose functions.
2. (2008 - $150,000) To support the start-up of the Cobscook Bay Company.

Additional Information 

Alan Furth, Executive Director of the Cobscook Community Learning Center (CCLC), located in Trescott Township, Maine, has been a valuable member of the Great Bay Grantee network for many years.  Great Bay funds were awarded to Alan in 2002 to help create a business plan for a seafood pie business.

After six and a half years of due diligence, the project is ready to move forward, and Great Bay has awarded the CCLC $150,000 to support the start-up of the Cobscook Bay Company.  The company will manufacture and market nutritious, frozen, value-added seafood meals to the retail grocery markets and to colleges and universities and other large institutions.

The Cobscook Bay Company represents a unique model for social enterprise.  The business itself will be a for-profit.  It will be jointly owned by Phinney Enterprises, a seafood processing and distribution business, and Periwinkle LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the CCLC, a nonprofit. The hybrid corporate structure will mean that the Cobscook Bay Company will operate with a double, if not triple, bottom line.

Great Bay’s funds were provided to the nonprofit CCLC to be used as an investment in the Cobscook Bay Company, with the understanding that the business’ success will have a direct impact on the CCLC’s continued ability to achieve its social mission.