RUMFORD — A Maine engineering company recently announced it would match any donations to Black Mountain of Maine up to $5,000 made through Bangor Savings Bank, Franklin Savings Bank, or online through GoFundMe.com

Marketing director Paige Carter said the Fitch Company, an engineering firm with offices in Bangor, Rumford and Gray, said it would match any donations made to Black Mountain through online services or money raised through Bangor Savings Bank.

“We basically keep a tally of donations, and the Finch Company donated the money in one lump sum as a way to match what was raised,” Carter said. “For every dollar that is donated to us, it’s like two dollars after the Fitch Company matches.

“It’s huge to have them matching donations like this,” she said. “I think it’s showing that different businesses recognize the importance of Black Mountain to this community.”

On June 11, voters defeated an initiated article that requested $51,000 to fund the resort as a recreational resource. The money was to help carry the ski area through the summer, get it ready for winter and pay wages for three employees.

Since the vote, ownership changed from the Maine Winter Sports Center to the Black Mountain Ski Resort Board of Directors. Fundraisers have included bottle drives, 5K runs, a published book on the history of Black Mountain and a series of drives on fundraising websites.

mdaigle@sunjournal.com