Maine Community Foundation Maine Community Foundation President and CEO Hanak Schmelzer, second from right, visited Coastal Enterprises, Inc. recently to recognize the work that earned CEI the 2007 Noyce Award for Nonprofit Excellence.

Hank Schmelzer, president and CEO of the Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF), visited Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) Friday, Feb. 1, to recognize the work that earned the organization MaineCF's 2007 Elizabeth Noyce Award for Nonprofit Excellence.

The annual award acknowledges a Maine nonprofit's exceptional leadership and service to a community. This year's honorees were selected for their success in promoting economic development and preserving quality of place.

"For 30 years, Coastal Enterprises has been at the forefront of promoting economically and environmentally healthy communities," said Schmelzer.�"CEI's leadership in raising awareness about the importance of, and threats to, working waterfronts in Maine is a recent example of its coalition building in action."

CEI's fisheries and working waterfront projects have created more than 1,300 full-time jobs, and secured waterfront access for 165 boats where a marine-related business is active. In turn, fishermen have participated in CEI's FISHTAG research program.

"Fishermen are providing CEI with important research data regarding marine life and water quality," said CEI President Ron Phillips. "Businesses and individuals are also being strengthened by loans and operating assistance provided by CEI."

Fisheries Program Director Hugh Cowperthwaite shared the success story of North End Lobster Co-Op which received start-up loans from CEI for its facility on Westport Island in the Sheepscot River.

"More than 20 fishermen now have a permanent home for their boat, and a place where they can get gas, bait, and store their product," said Cowperthwaite.

In addition to an engraved, wooden plaque, the Noyce Award comes with a $10,000 unrestricted grant prize. The Maine Mountain Sustainable Development Initiative of Farmington also received a 2007 Noyce Award.