Current Communities

Main Street Maine

• Bath
• Biddeford
• Gardiner
• Rockland
• Saco
• Sanford
• Skowhegan
• Van Buren
• Waterville

Main Street Bath

Designated in 2001
www.visitbath.com

Bath provides a picturesque downtown, which is bordered to the east by the Kennebec River, twelve miles from the ocean and located on mid-coast Route 1. Its ambiance is Nineteenth Century with brick sidewalks and simulated gas street lamps reflecting its rich maritime and naval history. The vibrant downtown has a wide range of retail businesses housed in buildings which reflect the history of the City. It is also home to Bath Iron Works, the state’s largest employer.

With a population of 9,266, community spirit in Bath is enormously high, including the support of area residents for the July 4th Heritage Days, launchings at Bath Iron Works and for other special events. Bath is uniquely positioned to serve as a center not only for its year-round residents, but also for the summer residents and tourist trade from nearby coastal areas. Bath has also been listed as number17 on the list of the top 100 small cities in which to live. Bath is in a rare position to have its entire downtown’s first and second floors filled with successful and unique businesses. In 2005 Bath was named a “Dozen Distinctive Destination” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

In the summer of 2008 Main Street Bath launched its historic downtown walking tour pod cast, which along with their award winning website, web cam, MySpace and Facebook pages and Twitter account, has given Bath a national reputation as a trendsetting community.

Heart of Biddeford

Designated in 2006
www.heartofbiddeford.org

With a population of over 22,000, Biddeford is Maine’s sixth largest city. Historically, the city was a world leader in textile. Today, the economy has diversified as the city and private owners are working to redevelop the historic mills for new uses as new ventures are coming into the downtown area. A wide variety of businesses, including professional services, artists, and restaurants, along with residential expansion, is currently repopulating the mills.

Over the past few years Biddeford has welcomed a burgeoning art community, with artists moving into downtown apartments and renting studio space in the mill district. To emphasize this movement, Heart of Biddeford holds the Chalk on the Walk festival annually, and downtown Biddeford hosts a monthly Art Walk the last Friday of each month. These two events attract a lot of attention locally and give people a chance to discover the “new” Biddeford.

In addition to the creative economy in Biddeford, Main Street has welcomed over 15 new businesses to downtown over the last three years. Anyone familiar with Biddeford can see that there’s a lot of energy and enthusiasm behind downtown revitalization and that downtown is once again becoming the thriving center of this community.

Gardiner Main Street

Designated in 2001
Gardiner’s 2011 Annual Meeting and Awards PowerPoint Presentation
www.gardinermainst.org

A Preserve America Community

Gardiner is located in Central Maine and has a population of 6,198 (2000 U.S. Census). It has long been an economic center for the state, and its location on the Kennebec River provided many commerce opportunities, from wharves and mills to tanneries, lumber yards, paper mills, and ice production.

As mill production waned and businesses closed, Gardiner changed from a factory community to a bedroom community. Gardiner is within reasonable commuting distance of major employment centers (Augusta, Bath, Portland), yet far enough away that it is a service center for the surrounding area. Over 30,000 vehicles pass through downtown Gardiner on any given day.

In 2001 Gardiner was named as one of the original Main Street Maine communities, and the results have been impressive. The downtown boasts mixed use with a variety of retail, restaurants and service oriented businesses, along with residential units on the upper floors. Arts and culture are thriving in Gardiner, with an array of art related businesses, Johnson Hall and the library. The city recently added a 500’ boardwalk and a kayak and canoe launch on the newly expanded Kennebec River waterfront. The Kennebec River Rail Trail now connects Gardiner to Augusta and the city has plans for additional trail connections within Gardiner.

Rockland Main Street

Designated in 2009

Located in Midcoast Maine in Knox County, Rockland is one of our two newest Main Street Maine communities. They successfully hosted the 2009 Maine Downtown Conference and are excited to be a part of the Main Street Maine program!

Saco Spirit

Designated in 2001
www.sacospirit.com

A Certified Local Government, approved by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission and National Park Service

With miles of sandy beach on the Atlantic Ocean and the presence of the Saco River, the City of Saco is blessed with a beautiful location. It has good access to transportation with Amtrak’s Downeaster, Interstate 95 and Route 1 through the City. The City’s population is 18,000 and it is one the fastest growing cities in the state.

Downtown Saco is most noted for its beautiful Main Street. Its beautiful architecture in the Downtown National register Historic District and its tree-lined streets are the focus of great community pride. Its historic brick mill district is now under redevelopment with the $100 million Island Point project or office, condominiums and a brewery/restaurant. The city has a growing reputation as a green city, with a wind generator just 45 feet from Main Street, poised to power the new $2 million Amtrak Station, now under construction. The station will be heated and cooled by geo-thermal energy.

Saco Spirit engaged local merchants and residents in developing the River Walk Trail, which brings the beautiful Saco River closer to local walkers. The rehabilitation of Main Street from the Saco River is poised to continue from Main Street north to Beach Street, with new street lighting and sidewalks.

Sanford Downtown Legacy

Designated in 2009
www.sanforddowntown.org

Located in central York County in Southern Maine, Sanford is one of our two newest Main Street Maine communities. They are excited about their historic downtown and are ready to go!

Main Street Skowhegan

Designated in 2005
www.mainstreetskowhegan.org

Located in north Central Maine, Skowhegan is situated on the picturesque banks of the Kennebec River. Like many Maine towns, Skowhegan’s history is steeped in wood products and mills, and the town is trying to find new avenues to bolster its economy.

Main Street Skowhegan (MSS) was designated part of the Main Street Maine Program in the fall of 2005. In this catalyst phase of development, downtown Skowhegan underwent significant infrastructure improvements, including the replacement of the town’s water and sewer lines, new streetlights, sidewalk stamping, beautification/green space and tree planting, pedestrian friendly sidewalks, a building façade program, and public bathrooms. A number of promotional events have been held to bring people downtown including Holiday Stroll, Skowpendus, Maple Breakfast, and Tent Days which is a collaborative effort with New Balance. The successful Farmer’s Market is open year round.

Van Buren Main Street

Designated in 2005
www.vanburenmaine.com/mainstreet/

Van Buren is located in Aroostook County on the border between Maine and Canada. Its small population of 2600 is extremely tight-knit, with residents having a strong sense of community. Often called the “Gateway” to the St. John Valley, Van Buren is a picturesque place, with tremendous views of the St. John River and wide open fields. Van Buren also enjoys a strong French-Acadian heritage that is alive and well, from the ployes served in the many local restaurants to the language spoken on the street.

Van Buren once boasted a strong economy based on timber and agriculture. While those industries have faced many hurdles over the years, Van Buren has been able to attract a number of new ventures. The town also attracts thousands of tourists each year who enjoy four seasons of activity, from snowmobiling and cross country skiing in the winter to hiking, fishing, and boating during the other seasons. Just outside the downtown area is the Acadian Village, where visitors can see and experience a number of historic buildings that have been saved from demolition over the years as well as learn about old techniques for harvesting potatoes and wood.

Waterville Main Street

Designated 2001
www.watervillemainstreet.org

With a population of over 15,000, Waterville boasts several large employers in the growing health and education industries, including Inland Hospital, MaineGeneral Medical Center, Colby College, and Thomas College. In addition to the educational institutions located within Waterville, both Kennebec Valley Community College and Unity College are located within a 15 mile radius. The Greater Waterville region is also home to a diverse mix of stable employers.

Located on the banks of the beautiful Kennebec River, downtown Waterville has long served as an important commercial and cultural center for the Central Maine area. Downtown Waterville contains a unique mix of shops, restaurants and services.

Downtown serves as the community center for Waterville and the surrounding area, offering a wide variety of cultural events and activities throughout the year, including year-round arts education opportunities, one of the oldest sidewalk art shows in the state, the Taste of Greater Waterville, and the Maine International Film Festival. Downtown is also home to the Waterville Opera House.

A stroll down Main Street reveals unique architecture from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, offering a glimpse into the past and creating a sense of welcome and charm.