MDF’s Maine Downtown Center Announces Annual Awards

Brunswick, MAINE — April 26, 2023  — The Maine Downtown Center, a program of Maine Development Foundation (MDF), is thrilled to announce awards recognizing projects and individuals that have made the biggest impacts in downtown communities in the past year. The awards were given out during a celebratory ceremony today. 

“If you are involved in your community or your downtown, these exemplary individuals and projects provide tangible revitalization strategies to take back to your community, “says Anne Ball, Senior Program Director for MDF’s Maine Downtown Center (MDC). “We were very excited to bring together downtown leaders from across the state to celebrate, network, and be inspired. It was great to be back together, celebrating in person, after three years doing so virtually.” 

The MDC team gathered nominations for the awards during a competitive process, and proudly announce the following winners: 

Downtown Hero Award: Teresa Valliere, Friends of Woodfords Corner. The organization is an MDC Affiliate and has grown quickly and Teresa has been behind nearly everything they’ve accomplished. Teresa has no formal background in economic development, historic preservation, or community organizing, nor is she trained as an urban planner. She has used her background in the food and hospitality industry and her experience as a clinical social worker to build relationships and organize events that helped set in motion the rebuilding of Woodfords Corner, and helped form strategic planning to continue to propel the community forward. 

Downtown Project Award: “Manifesting Main – Asset Mapping downtown Ellsworth”. This comprehensive, strategic planning tool was developed over the course of a year by the Heart of Ellsworth organization, an MDC Affiliate. They set a goal to engage a broad spectrum of community members and collectively set a strategic direction for the Heart of Ellsworth, the City of Ellsworth, businesses, and the downtown commercial district as a whole.  

“I can only accept this award on behalf of the whole team of neighbors and supporters – the Board, our Muskie grad assistants, the scores of volunteers and the many, many businesses and organizations who partner with us,” says Teresa Valliere, Board Chair, Friends of Woodfords Corner. “We see neighboring is a verb – like the old story of Stone Soup. We just started the effort; others keep contributing more and more and eventually we will all be nourished by the vibrant hub. I am so proud and privileged to live among and work alongside the folks in Woodfords Corner.” 

“This award is a resounding validation of community collaboration, and Heart of Ellsworth is honored to be named 2022 Project of the Year,” says Cara Romano, Executive Director, Heart of Ellsworth. “With input from the Ellsworth community, we inventoried downtown assets while looking to the future. We created a manifesto, an informative tool for the 2023 City of Ellsworth comprehensive plan. Community input and timing were the project’s successes.”  

Another cause for celebration during the event was the presentation of MDF’s Champion for Forest Communities Award to Charlie Spies, retired CEO, CEI Capital Management, for his dedication to and leadership of work over the last five years within communities participating in the FOR/Maine (Forest Opportunity Roadmap) Initiative. FOR/Maine works to sustain and grow Maine’s forest products industry to $12 billion in economic impact by 2025. 

The MDC Annual Awards serve as inspiration statewide for communities and individuals working on downtown revitalization. They recognize outstanding efforts in communities which are part of MDF’s Maine Downtown Center program. 

To learn more about Maine Downtown Center and how your community can get involved, visit   our website. 

Economic Indicators in Focus: Earth Day 2023 – Greenhouse Gas Emissions & Water Quality

Photo credit: Yankee Magazine

“It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know the sense of wonder and humility.” 
― Rachel Carson, The Sense of Wonder

Rachel Carson, the marine biologist who many credit with launching the modern environmental movement, wrote passionately about her beloved Maine: “The deep dark woodland and rugged shore … periwinkles grazing on the intertidal rocks, waiting for the return of the tide … all the heady, aromatic, bittersweet fragrances compounded of pine and spruce and bayberry, warmed by the sun.” 

As we take stock this Earth Day of the daunting status of the globe amidst the climate crisis, Mainers can take hope in some of the ways we are stepping up to the challenge. Two of the 31 indicators featured in MDF’s Measures of Growth 2022 Report speak to efforts that not only positively impact the environment, but the Maine economy as well. 

Water Quality 

In 2022, 95% of Maine rivers and streams and 91% of lakes achieved Category 1 or 2 – or “good” – in 2022. This can be a beacon of hope to other regions given that in national rankings just 31% of U.S. rivers and streams, and 19% of the lakes met the mark. Maine stands as a powerful model for addressing water quality issues and restoring the health of our rivers, lakes, and streams, which continue to provide drinking water, support ecosystems, bolster tourism, and therefore are a pillar of the Maine economy as a whole.  

Greenhouse Gas Emissions 

From 2018 to 2019, greenhouse gas emissions in Maine fell 2%, from 16.8 to 16.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. In 2019, emissions were 23% below 1990 levels, meaning Maine is continuing to progress toward its 2030 goal of reducing emissions 45% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80% by 2050. 

In 2003, Maine became the first U.S. state to enact a statutory target for lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and met that initial goal when emissions fell to 10% below 1990 levels in 2012. In 2019, further legislation set the current goals for 2030 and 2050.  

Continued Diligence 

These are just two of indicators the Maine Economic Growth Council, the nonpartisan, independent group that oversees the Measures of Growth Report, tracks Maine’s environmental health, how it intersects with Maine’s economy, and why the Council recommends continued diligence on these fronts. 

We hope you will dig into the data behind these Indicators and how they intersect with other critical elements of Maine’s economy. Visit the Measures of Growth section of our website where you can see all 31 indicators we featured in 2022, as well as past issues of the report dating back to 2010. 

Funding opportunities for Area Youth Sports building discussed with Congressional staff

MDF’s Erica Watson, Program Director for Education & Workforce Development, is among the leaders featured in this article from the Lewiston Sun Journal on innovative, practical collaborations to meet the moment as communities around Maine grapple with shifting economic changes. Robyn Raymond, an alumnus of MDF’s ICL (Institute for Civic Leadership) and Exec. Dir. of Spruce Mountain Adult Education, MDF’s 2022 Champion of Education & Workforce Development Award winner, is also featured.

Read the full article.

New act for forest products: Manufacturers find new uses for Maine’s vast forest resource

MDF’s Program Director for the FOR/Maine (Forest Opportunity Roadmap) initiative, Bri Bowman, and other leaders Maine’s forest economy initiative are featured in this Mainebiz article. It highlights the many innovative and sustainable Maine products that are helping grow Maine’s forest economy and the communities who depend on it. “Our goal is to grow and diversify Maine’s forest economy, to build resilience in the industry and to support rural communities where manufacturing and natural resource-based jobs are located,” says Brianna Bowman, program director for FOR/Maine. FOR/Maine’s work includes “global matchmaking” for companies interested in Maine’s resource. “We’ve tuned in to a massive global demand,” Bowman says.

Read the article

Economic Indicator in Focus: Racial Income Equity

In honor of Black History Month, Maine State Museum shared the story of Eliza Griffin, an entrepreneur who lived on Malaga Island off Phippsburg in the early 1900s.  

“Eliza Griffin’s home was once a ship’s cabin. To earn a living, she took in laundry from hotels and mainland families. In 1909 a journalist wrote that Eliza was very successful at her laundry business and brought in more money than the fishermen. Eliza would have washed all the laundry by hand. Many buttons were found at her house archaeological site and on the nearby beach. … The 2012 exhibition ‘Malaga Island, Fragmented Lives’ marked the 100th anniversary of Maine state government’s eviction of impoverished, mixed-race residents from their homes on Phippsburg’s Malaga Island. The exhibit is now closed. But, you can continue to explore the island’s history through the museum’s website, which includes a variety of historical photographs and pictures of artifacts, as well as detailed information about Malaga Island and its people.” – Maine State Museum

Imagine what Eliza, fellow members/business owners of the Malaga Island community, and Mainers of Color could have achieved and contributed if they had been able to thrive and prosper in a truly equitable and inclusive Maine culture and economy?  

Efforts to build and sustain such a culture and economy are underway in earnest, and require ongoing broad, deep, and long-term systemic change. The independent, non-partisan Maine Economic Growth Council, which MDF staffs and works with to produce the annual Measures of Growth Report, strongly believes that Maine will need the contributions of every resident to achieve a vibrant, sustainable economy. Increasing prosperity is not true progress unless it is equitably shared.   

For example, consider our Racial Income Equity Indicator, as highlighted in the 2022 Measures of Growth Report. “From 2016-2020, the average incomes of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and Latino or Hispanic Mainers rose 3% but remained 33% below white Mainers, dramatically short of full equity. The average per-capita income of BIPOC and Latino or Hispanic Maine residents (7% of the Maine population) was $22,851. That is 66% of the $34,642 average for White, non-Hispanic Maine residents (93% of the state’s population).”  

This stark racial/ethnic income disparity is similar to that of New England and the United States. To counter it, Maine must improve access to training and education for residents of color, better support their communities and businesses, and address cultural biases and systemic disadvantages.  

We hope you will dig into the data behind this Indicator and how it intersects with other critical indicators and Maine’s economy as a whole. Visit the Measures of Growth section of our website where you can see all 31 Indicators we featured in 2022, as well past issued of the report dating back to 2010.

Houlton joins project to boost small business innovation

MDF’s Anne Ball, Senior Program Director for Maine Downtown Center is featured in this Bangor Daily News article on the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem initiative. Houlton and nine other Maine communities are participating with guidance and support from MDF’s Maine Downtown Center team in partnership with the national Maine Street America organization.

Read the full article.

2022 Measures of Growth Report Highlights Maine’s Enduring Assets and the Need for Innovative Responses to Workforce Challenges

Hallowell, Maine – November 16, 2022 – The nonpartisan Maine Economic Growth Council today released its 28h annual Measures of Growth Report, a comprehensive snapshot of how the state’s economy is performing relative to our long-term goals, to other states, and to the nation. The Report finds that overall, Maine continues to perform exceptionally well in terms of environment and safety. Wage growth and entrepreneurship were also areas of progress even as inflation, workforce shortages, and the lingering impact of COVID continue to challenge communities, businesses, and households, The Council noted that Maine’s quality of life and other enduring assets set the stage for additional investments to achieve economic growth, a more resilient economy in an uncertain global environment, and long-term and more equitable prosperity.

The Report also brings special focus to Maine’s particular challenges in workforce availability and participation, an urgent issue in every industry and region. This stems from years of demographic, economic, and social changes compounded by a global pandemic and calls for innovative responses if we are to build the workforce we need.

“This Report provides critical insight into Maine’s economy and workforce,” says Steve Von Vogt, Co-Chair of the Maine Economic Growth Council. “We must continue to harness Yankee ingenuity, innovation, and public-private partnerships to respond to the economic challenges posed by COVID, inflation, and climate change. To build the workforce we need, Maine business, community, and non-profit leaders of all races and ethnicities must continue to join forces to eradicate systemic inequities. We must work comprehensively: increase efforts to attract more working-age people from other states and countries, retain more of the young people born here, and help people of all ages, genders, abilities, races, and ethnicities to access the education and training they need to pursue the work and career of their choice, and to participate fully in our economy.”

In total, the 2022 Measures of Growth Report tracks 31 indicators that represent Maine’s assets and areas of challenge. To better reflect current circumstances, the report has a new measure: Mental and Behavioral Health, which acknowledges the growing impact of mental wellness challenges.

The Council assigns Gold Stars for significant progress in:

  • Entrepreneurship – In 2020, the number of business starts exceeded closures by 9%, up from 4% in 2019.
  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions – From 2018 to 2019, GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions fell 2%.
  • Safety – Maine’s crime rate dropped another 7% in 2020 and is now 46% below the national average.
  • Wages – In 2021, average wages rose 0.5% after adjusting for inflation. Maine made significant progress compared to peer states.
  • Water Quality – In 2022, Maine maintained its excellent water quality rating – far above the U.S. average.

The Council assigns Red Flags for needed attention to:

  • Cost of Energy – The price of industrial electricity rose 10% in 2021, mirroring increases across New England.
  • Cost of Health Care – Health care expenditures fell 0.4% in 2021 but remain an ongoing challenge.
  • Housing Affordability – Home ownership affordability got much worse in 2021, but the full index (including rentals) was not available at time of publication.
  • Labor Force Participation – In 2021, 60% of Maine adults were in the labor force —unchanged since 2020 and below the U.S. average.
  • Mental and Behavioral Health – In 2019-2020, the percentage of children with a mental and/or behavioral condition rose over 2%.
  • Research and Development – In 2019, Maine’s R&D spending rose from 0.8% to 1.0% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

“We are encouraged by the rise in wages over the past two years, even after adjusting for inflation,” says State Senator and Council Co-Chair James Dill (D-Penobscot). “This comes after a decade of lagging wages and Maine is now surpassing our comparison states. This is a multi-year trend which sends a strong signal about the pace and scope of Maine’s recovery. However, it is tempered by the reality that wages are barely keeping up with inflation, and by the persistent income disparities between Maine’s white households and those of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and Latino or Hispanic Mainers), and the gap between the income of women and their male counterparts.”

The report also highlighted important gaps in R&D investment, cost of doing business, and housing affordability. “The Measures of Growth annual report has long provided valuable information about what we are doing right, where we need to improve, and the trends of progress or decline over time,” says Yellow Light Breen, MDF’s President and CEO. “These indicators reinforce that talent, innovation, and infrastructure must be the focus for strategic investment – while also maintaining public health, a clean environment, and vibrant communities. We look forward to the opportunity to work with policymakers, businesses, and community leaders to continue building a Maine economy that is inclusive and sustainable – as we did in leveraging these insights to inform the 2022 Making Maine Work platform released by MDF, the State Chamber, and EducateMaine.”

The Maine Economic Growth Council takes a nonpartisan, data-driven approach to presenting an unbiased picture of Maine’s economy and well-being. Measures of Growth is designed to be a resource for policy and decision makers at all levels, helping them to focus their efforts and understand the connections between the key issues affecting the state. The Council is administered by the Maine Development Foundation (MDF). Council members are jointly appointed by the Governor, Senate President, and Speaker of the House, and represent a broad and diverse cross-section of Maine’s key constituencies.

Click here to dig into the data through our interactive Measures of Growth web section

Click here to read the Full Report

Click here to read the Executive Summary

Maine Downtown Center Selects Hallowell and Old Town for Downtown Revitalization Roadmap Process 

HALLOWELL, Maine — September 19, 2022 — MDF’s Maine Downtown Center (MDC) is pleased to select the towns of Hallowell and Old Town to participate in our Downtown Revitalization Roadmap™ project. This process empowers communities to give new life to historic downtowns, broaden their local economy, and engage people and businesses in new ways. 

 “This project energizes communities and gives them powerful tools to move their community forward,” says Anne Ball, Maine Downtown Center Program Director. “Both Hallowell and Old Town have done much of the groundwork to improve their downtowns and this project will boost those revitalization efforts” 

 MDC will work with Ben Levenger, Downtown Redevelopment Services, LLC. The Revitalization Roadmap™ process is a streamlined planning process that takes 7-10 weeks and involves downtown visioning, a downtown assessment (ordinances, business health and building conditions), public input and strategic recommendations (tasks, initiatives or policy suggestions). The recommendations are grounded in short and long-term achievable goals that are highly action oriented and use existing resources for no and low cost implementation. 

 Ben will work with Vision Hallowell, one of fourteen Maine Downtown Affiliates across Maine, to collate the work of various community groups and committees who have touched the downtown including the Age Friendly Committee’s work focused on walkability and transportation while other groups have been working on downtown arts projects, Granite City Park, the future of the former fire station and most recently the community has undertaken Community Heart & Soul. The Roadmap Process will help the community and Vision Hallowell prioritize what they will do over the next 3-5 years. 

 ”Vision Hallowell was excited to be selected as one of the communities to benefit from the Revitalization Roadmap Project,” says Deb Fahy, President, Vision Hallowell. “We all have our passions and favorite projects, but we’re a small city with limited resources. Having professional consultants take a deep dive into all the work we’ve been doing over the past few years and make recommendations should be very illuminating. I encourage Hallowell citizens and business owners to take the opportunity to talk to the consultants when they are in town September 28-30.” . 

 In Old Town, which is one of the FOR/Maine Communities (Forest Opportunity Roadmap), Ben will work with the newly formed downtown committee, which is prioritizing the revitalization of their downtown into a broad community and economic development effort. Old Town will focus on existing assets such as the Penobscot River, public art, and long-standing events such as Riverfest while attracting new small businesses to the core downtown district. 

Our efforts to improve and enhance our Downtown will benefit tremendously from this project. The partnership we have formed with the Maine Downtown Center this year has given us the momentum to bring structure, leadership, and focus to Downtown Old Town (DTOT),” says EJ Roach, Dir. of Economic & Community Development, City of Old Town. “The impact this program will have on our community and this region will be transformational and will create more economic stability for the City of Old Town”. 

Heart of Biddeford Earns National 2022 Great American Main Street Award

CHICAGO, IL (May 16, 2022) – Main Street America announced today that Heart of Biddeford in Biddeford, Maine has received the prestigious Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA), which recognizes communities for their excellence in comprehensive preservation-based commercial district revitalization. The 2022 GAMSA designations, sponsored by The Hartford, were presented at the opening plenary for the Main Street Now Conference in Richmond, VA.

Selected by a national jury of community development professionals and leaders in the fields of economic development and historic preservation, Heart of Biddeford is being recognized for their vibrant small business environment and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“Biddeford proves that equity and inclusion are the future of the Main Street movement,” said Main Street America President and CEO, Patrice Frey. “Their work with Black-owned businesses, formerly-incarcerated people, English Language Learners, and other groups has enriched the culture of the district and brought lasting economic change.”

For many years, Biddeford was colloquially known as “Trashtown” due to the presence of a large incinerator in the downtown mill district. The area was known for the heavy garbage trucks that regularly rolled into town and the unhealthy smoke that filled the air. Today, downtown Biddeford is known as a quintessential New England town. From a 4th generation bakery and the oldest diner in Maine to a thriving parks program and engaging annual festivals, Biddeford offers all the pleasures of coastal living with a growing array of amenities, cultural attractions, green space, and business opportunities.

Revitalization work led by the Heart of Biddeford organization began in 2004 with a focus on creating opportunities to bring people downtown through events and beautification initiatives. Becoming an accredited Main Street America program (2007), leading the Downtown Master Planning Process (2009-2011), and successfully advocating for the closure of the incinerator (2012) accelerated the organization’s efforts. With the support of forward-thinking city council and staff, redevelopment of the historic mill district spaces into residential and commercial spaces contributed to the positive transformation of downtown. Today the district’s 4.5% commercial vacancy rate is an additional point of pride and drastic improvement compared to 20.7% in 2006.

Heart of Biddeford’s continued success is made possible through their commitment to creating places of shared prosperity, equal access to opportunity, and inclusive engagement across all four points of the Main Street Approach. Notable examples of this commitment include partnering with veterans’ organizations to host parades downtown, hosting monthly meet-ups for female entrepreneurs, collaborating with Black Owned Maine to increase the organization’s capacity to incubate and promote Black-owned businesses in the district, and raising the inaugural Pride flag in the city.

“This is a huge honor for Heart of Biddeford, and we accept this award on behalf of thousands of volunteers, our municipal, cultural and service partners, and the business community,” said Delilah Poupore, Executive Director at Heart of Biddeford. “While we hope to become more inclusive and sustainable over time, we are very proud of our efforts to innovate during challenging times and to work in a connected way toward a common vision.”

Additional points of pride that have earned Heart of Biddeford GAMSA status include its commitment to historic preservation and community-based efforts that share the full story of their town and reinforce the sense of place that makes Biddeford unique. Heart of Biddeford’s partnerships with former mill workers and “Secret Spaces, Hidden Places” mill district tours ensures that future generations understand and appreciate the city’s rich heritage. Concurrently façade improvement grants and small-scale development projects have invested in its future by transforming once neglected spaces into attractive places to live and work. 

“We are so proud of Heart of Biddeford for earning a GAMSA,” said Anne Ball, Program Director at Maine Development Foundation . “They are an open and welcoming community and embrace their past while welcoming newcomers to their wonderful historic mill town. They are an exceptional statewide leader, and we learn from them every day.”