Home Grown Fuels Expands Investor Appeal as Qualified Opportunity Zone Business

MILLINOCKET, Maine - Oct. 27, 2025 - PRLog -- Following its recent approval under the Maine Seed Capital Tax Credit Program, Home Grown Fuels, Inc., today announced that its operations are located within a federally designated Qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ)—creating a rare overlap of state and federal investment incentives.

This designation positions the company to attract mission-aligned capital as new federal reforms make the Opportunity Zone program permanent and expand its benefits for rural communities. Together, the two programs offer investors substantial state credits, long-term federal tax advantages, and the opportunity to back sustainable growth in Maine's forest economy.

"The alignment of the new Opportunity Zone framework with Maine's Seed Capital Tax Credit opens a gateway for serious investors," said Dr. Brien Walton, chairman of the Maine Venture Fund and CIO of Acadia Capital Management. "When state and federal programs work in tandem, they create durable pathways for economic growth and community revitalization—particularly in collaboration with the innovative companies now locating in regions like East Millinocket."

Through its Carbon-Rite product line, Home Grown Fuels converts locally sourced wood chips into high-carbon materials used in PFAS remediation and polymer manufacturing.

"Lee Khan, CEO of Home Grown Fuels, added, "These overlapping programs give investors an exceptional pathway to pair strong returns with measurable environmental benefit. Rural Maine is emerging as a model for sustainable, high-impact industry."

Investor Highlights

• Up to 40% Maine state income-tax credit on eligible equity investments
• Federal deferral and potential exclusion of capital gains under OZ rules
• Enhanced 30% basis step-up for rural Qualified Opportunity Funds (QROFs)
• Multi-decade stability under the new permanent Opportunity Zone framework

About Home Grown Fuels, Inc.

Home Grown Fuels is located at the former Great Northern Paper Mill in East Millinocket, where it is repurposing existing infrastructure. Home Grown Fuels produces a product with greater than 90% carbon content used in PFAS filtration and Advanced Manufacturing.

https://homegrownfuels.net/