The Penquis Leadership Institute is a local leadership training program offered through the Penquis Higher Education Center (PHEC), in partnership with the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council and the Southern Piscataquis County Chamber of Commerce. The PLI provides a unique learning experience for new and emerging leaders who care about the Penquis region's future. The fall class will be limited to 15-20 members, representing a broad cross-section of the region's population.

"Research has shown that growing the pool of new leaders is critical to the continued strength of our economy and our ability to maintain vibrant rural communities," said Merlene Sanborn, director of PHEC.

The PLI is offered annually as a certificate program of PHEC, and participants will be awarded continuing education units. Tuition is $350 for the nine-month program.

The leadership institute's purpose is to promote long-term community and economic development in the Penquis region through leadership training. The institute has three main goals: to strengthen the area's leadership base by developing leadership skills; to foster effective partnerships that will work together to address the region's common goals; and to produce results by promoting action on community, county and regional issues.

PLI training will take place during 10 full days, over a period of nine months, between September 2004 and May 2005. All program sessions will be scheduled at local sites in the Penquis region during week days, minimizing travel and disruptions to work and family schedules. Local presenters and local businesses will be featured at all times, maximizing networking opportunities for class members.

The program's introductory session will be conducted over two consecutive days at the Piscataquis Regional YMCA to enable the development of group dynamics, introduce members to leadership skills, and form project teams that will study specific local issues during the year. The final session will include presentations by all project teams and a graduation ceremony at PHEC in May 2005.

In between, PLI sessions will be held one day each month at sites throughout the region. Each session will be dedicated to a specific issue of regional importance: community service and economic development, local government, entrepreneurship and small business, health care, tourism, manufacturing, and education. The intent is to sharpen the leadership skills of participants, and to provide them with a wider understanding of the people and systems that connect our region.

Local residents interested in participating in the Penquis Leadership Institute are required to fill out a basic, one-page application form and return it to PHEC by July 1. To receive application forms, or for more information on the PLI, contact Merlene Sanborn or Helen Kelly at PHEC, 564-2942/2943.