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Live & Work & Play

Thanks to her natural beauty and small town charm, Piscataquis County is a great place to live, work, and play.

Do you love being outside in nature?

Do your passions and hobbies include a paddle, hiking shoes, a camera, or snowshoes?

Do you value small businesses and small, safe communities where you actually know your neighbors?

Well then, welcome to Piscataquis County!

Imagine a place where traffic jams don’t exist. Where four season fun is literally right outside your doorstep.

Where you don’t have to sacrifice education or health care to live the peaceful life you want to lead.

Piscataquis County may be rural Maine, but we don’t lack the services you’d find in larger cities. We are a great place to start a business, work remotely, or retire. We have excellent schools, small and robust community hospitals and clinics, vibrant communities, and thousands of acres of pristine wilderness to explore.

Arts & Entertainment

The beauty of our wilderness has beckoned artists to our woods and waters for generations. Downtown Greenville is home to an Artisan Village along the shores of Moosehead Lake each summer. Be sure to stop in to the Gallery on the Lake, the heart of the Moosehead Lake Arts District.

Monson, Maine is an artists’ enclave, right in the heart of our region. Artists and writers from across the world find solace in Monson Arts’ residency programs. Located at the start of the famed 100 Mile Wilderness, there is peace, solace, and stunning natural beauty at every turn.

The historic Centre Theater in Dover-Foxcroft is home to live theater, events, and movies all year round. During the summer months, Piscataquis County comes alive with events and live music. From the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival to musical cruises aboard the steamship Katahdin, there are endless opportunities for fun and enjoyment for the whole family.

Careers

Our region is built on small business. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t professional opportunities to be had. At PCEDC, we will work with you to relocate your business or help you secure funding to start a business. If your dream is to live your best life in the most beautiful are of Maine, we want to help you make it a reality.

Climate

The Piscataquis region is located right in the center of Maine. Our mild summers and snowy winters appeal to many who crave all four seasons of weather. The foliage puts on a grand show each fall, bringing leaf peepers from all over the world to view the splendor. Winter enthusiasts love our snow pack for all sorts of fun, including skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and dog sledding. Our county averages 95 inches of snow a year! The spring thaw makes for some world class white water rafting, and the summer is filled with events and activities in all corners of our county.

The average high temperature during the summer months is 77 degrees. The winter low temperature averages 2 degrees.

Education

Our schools mirror our communities: friendly, safe, and strong. Our low student-to-teacher ratio means our students receive the attention they need to succeed. Students have the opportunity to follow their passions, be involved in school clubs or sports, and give back to the community.

We are committed to preparing students to succeed in an increasingly tech-driven world while giving them space to be creative. From classes in digital design, advanced placement classes, to the opportunity to take part in theater and sports, students in Piscataquis County have no shortage of options to learn and grow into the leaders of the future.

Continuing Education

Through a partnership with the University of Maine, Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative offers continuing education classes in Dover-Foxcroft. Local residents can benefit from the resources of Maine’s state university without traveling to Orono.

Offerings through Piscataquis Valley Adult Education focus on agriculture, 4-H, and home horticulture. UMaine’s Cooperative Extension has been bringing university expertise to all corners of the state for more than 100 years. The county offices are staffed by experts who provide practical, locally-based solutions for all in the community, from farmers to small business owners to families.

Health Care

Piscataquis County is home to two regional hospitals: Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft and Northern Light C.A. Dean Hospital in Greenville. These smaller hospitals, and a collection of family practices and clinics, offer quality care, close to home.

Both of these hospitals are 25-bed, critical access facilities. They serve both the year-round residents as well as the summer visitors that make our region their home each year.

Our Residents

Our communities are built upon a dedication to your neighbor. Residents love the small town feel of Piscataquis County. Here you can be close to the city of Bangor while being set in nature. We have affordable housing and a growing connectivity. There are various local organizations for volunteering and community service as well as places for worship. Relocate your business or start one here in Piscataquis County.

Recreation / Outdoors

If you love the outdoors, you’ve come to the right place! Several of Maine’s recreational highlights are located right here in Piscataquis County, including Moosehead Lake, Gulf Hagas, the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Wilderness Lodges, Chesuncook Lake, Borestone Mountain Audubon Sanctuary, the 100 Mile Wilderness, and the Appalachian Trail.

The Piscataquis Region boasts outdoor fun all four seasons of the year. Love to hike? Check out the Moosehead Pinnacle Pursuit. Want to discover waterfalls? Head to Gulf Hagas, the Grand Canyon of Maine. Is snowmobiling your thing? We have hundreds of miles of groomed trails just waiting for your sled. Whether you prefer exploring with your paddle, boots, or ATV, our underdeveloped frontier land awaits.

Shopping

Small business reigns supreme in our region. Shopping local is easy – and encouraged – throughout Piscataquis County. It’s how we support our neighbors and friends. PCEDC works hard to foster entrepreneurship in our region, and we have excellent resources for those who wish to realize their dreams right here in Piscataquis County.

Here you’re sure to run into your neighbors at the local grocery store. You’ll find gifts for friends near and far at our local shops and boutiques. Our communities harken back to those “good old days” of knowing where your necessities come from. From restaurants serving homemade food grown by local farmers to local hardware stores where you can get expert advice and basic necessities, our small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. And we like it that way.

Sports

Outdoor enthusiasts flock to the Piscataquis region to take advantage of our natural landscape. Hikers from across the globe walk right through our county on the Appalachian Trail each year. We also have some great sporting opportunities for those who love to play hard.

The newest addition to our region is the Piscataquis County Ice Arena. This $5.5 million facility was built by the Libra Foundation and is a beacon of excitement for Dover-Foxcroft and the surrounding communities.

Success Stories

Community success is the backbone of PCEDC. Find out more about how local businesses and organizations have utilized our services to achieve their goals.