EAST MILLINOCKET, Maine (AP) A federal-state partnership is providing more than $2 million to assist the forest products industry in Maine.

The money’s from the Northern Border Regional Commission, which supports rural and economically depressed communities in the Northeast. The largest grant’s an award of more than $900,000 to the Northern Forest Center, which has offices in Concord, New Hampshire, and South Portland, Maine.

The center’s slated to use the money to launch an initiative in states including Maine to attract visitors. East Millinocket Industrials is receiving $450,000 to redevelop the East Millinocket paper mill site into a multi-industrial complex. Maine Development Foundation is receiving more than $640,000 for a project to revitalize communities impacted by mill closures.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins and independent Sen. Angus King say the grants will create rural jobs.