Rural-Focused Fund Backs Maine Enterprises Tapping Technology Used In Europe
What are the chances that the first two investments of a fledgling fund focused on boosting rural economic development in the U.S. would be Maine-based enterprises using technologies with a track record in Europe, but unknown here?
A landscape scene in Acadia National Park in Maine
That’s the story behind RuralWorks Partners’ initial impact investments—American Unagi, which produces and processes sushi-grade American eels, and TimberHP, a maker of building insulation made of waste wood fiber.
Made in Maine Eels
With a long-time interest in aquaculture, Sara Rademaker founded Waldeboro, ME-based American Unagi in her basement in Maine about 10 years ago. Her mission: to jumpstart the growth of the domestic fish industry. After doing some research, she’d realized that eels were a perfect fish to target. ”As a little girl, I never saw myself as an eel farmer,” says Rademaker. “But this seemed like a