FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Roxanne Eflin - Maine Development Foundation – reflin@mdf.org - 229-9465                              
Greg Paxton - Maine Preservation – greg@mainepreservation.org - 232-5995
Nancy Smith - GrowSmart Maine – nsmith@growsmartmaine.org - 699-4330

Dynamic two-day conference on Maine Downtowns comes to Capital City!

Augusta, Maine…May 18, 2010:  The Maine Downtown Center, Maine Preservation and GrowSmart Maine join forces this year to present a dynamic two-day conference showcasing the economic value of downtown revitalization and historic preservation. 

“We are excited to bring our three organization’s annual conferences together for a fantastic two-day experience in our state’s historic capital,” said Maine Downtown Center Director Roxanne Eflin.  “There has been a resurgence of activity in historic downtowns with new businesses, cultural events, arts and theatre and institutional investments.  With Augusta’s downtown gaining momentum, and its central location, it was an obvious choice to host the state’s preeminent event on revitalizing Maine’s communities.”

The two-day conference will include nationally-recognized keynote speakers:

Donovan Rypkema, Principal, PlaceEconomics,
Donovan runs a Washington, D.C.‐based international real estate and economic development‐consulting firm. He trains in community‐based development; economic revitalization of downtowns and neighborhood commercial centers; and the rehabilitation of historic structures. His writings and innovative ideas have a national following.

Tripp Muldrow, Arnett Muldrow & Associates
Tripp is one of the nation’s leaders specializing in “branding” for communities seeking to create economic vitality. He presents regularly at national conferences and effectively combines the planning and community issues with professional graphics and marketing. Clients include numerous Main Street programs, organizations and larger regional collaborations.

In addition, new GrowSmart Maine Executive Director Nancy Smith will make her first major public presentation.

The first day of the conference, Profitable Preservation will discuss why more than $100 million in privately-funded projects have begun in the last year-and-a-half using the federal and the new state historic rehabilitation tax credits, transforming communities across Maine. Sessions will help community leaders learn how preserving historic buildings are critical to a feasible downtown revitalization strategy, explore how to grow communities with compact development surrounded by rural open spaces, roll out the new statewide building and energy codes, and discover the latest in green rehabilitation practices.

“Historic preservation includes an effective and proven set of techniques to encourage community development and enhancement. Maine is making great strides to use this approach to, ‘Support the revitalization of Maine’s towns and cities,’ as recommended in the 2006 Brookings and GrowSmart Maine Report, Charting Maine‘s Future,” said Maine Preservation Executive Director Greg Paxton.   “This conference will help to encourage this transformation.”  

Day two, Main Street Works!, focuses on key strategies for downtown revitalization.  Fifteen workshops provide practical training with real solutions for Maine.  Topics include Green Downtowns, façade design, retail business development, social marketing, organizational leadership, downtown performance spaces, window displays, special events, fundraising and heritage tourism trails to name just a few. 

Successes will be celebrated on both days.  On Thursday evening, Maine Preservation will present its Annual Honor Awards at Hallowell City Hall.  On Friday following lunch, the Maine Downtown Center will present its annual Downtown Achievement Awards where six new Maine Downtown Network communities will be announced.  The Augusta Historic Preservation Commission will lead a walking tour through the Water Street Historic District.

This event is being generously sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, Lipman Katz & McKee, Consigli Construction Co., Eaton Peabody Consulting Group LLC, Wright Pierce, MaineGeneral, Maine Turnpike Authority, R.H. Reny Inc., Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce, Kennebec Valley Council of Governments, Norway Savings Bank, Mattson, Sutherland Conservation and Consulting, Verrill Dana LLP.  

For full information on this two-day event and registration please go to: www.mdf.org. 

The Maine Downtown Center (MDC) is the state coordinator for the National Trust for Historic Preservation's "Main Street" program, utilizing a Four-Point Approach for economic development and downtown revitalization within the context of historic preservation.  MDC focuses on community-based results in business growth, job creation, building rehabilitation, cultural enhancement and organizational development in downtowns statewide.  MDC is a program of the Maine Development Foundation (MDF), a private nonprofit organization that drives sustainable, long-term economic growth for Maine.
Maine Preservation, founded in 1972, is Maine’s nonprofit statewide member-based historic preservation organization. Maine Preservation  provides technical advice, small grants, training for undertaking preservation projects, and encourages and facilitates downtown revitalization, neighborhood improvement and private-sector investment  in historic building rehabilitation.  It advocates at the local, state and national  level for historic preservation incentives, laws, policies and funding, and provides leadership and assistance for people working to preserve Maine's cultural heritage. 

GrowSmart Maine promotes sustainable prosperity for all Mainers by integrating working and natural landscape conservation, economic growth, and community revitalization. We promote Quality of Place by convening and engaging in public conversations about Maine’s future, contributing common sense policy analysis, educating the public, advocating for state and local change, and supporting model practices.

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