Thriving Community Model Program

This program brings together 3 statewide agencies to align without duplication to serve Maine’s rural communities. MDF with Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA), Maine Redevelopment (MR), and Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) are leading the efforts on the creation of a connected, collaborative network for economic/community development service providers. This improved system will allow Maine communities easy access to the services they need. 

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In an 18-24 month process, this program will support selected biomass and supply chain communities through revitalization to promote long term economic development and ensure sustainability. The program helps affected towns diversify their economy using a holistic, place-based approach to achieve economic revitalization, recovery, and resilience goals.

To better understand the process, please read below.

The Thriving Community Model program will support biomass communities through revitalization to promote long term economic development and ensure sustainability. The program helps rural towns diversify their economy using the Maine Development Foundation’s (MDF) Thriving Community Model (TCM), a holistic, place-based approach to community and economic development. TCM is designed to meet communities where they are, with needed services, to achieve economic revitalization, recovery, and resilience goals. This approach ensures that every community receives the targeted support it needs and recognizes that no two communities are alike. This program aligns with Maine’s NBRC Priority – Infrastructure to support Economic Development – by helping communities identify, align, and strengthen key economic development opportunities and assets including workforce development and attraction, innovation and entrepreneurship. 

For selected communities (both pilot groups one and two), this is a two-year commitment. Communities will complete a comprehensive community assessment to evaluate their economic, workforce, and community, assets and needs. Each community will receive a Comprehensive Assessment Report which will articulate baseline metrics for physical assets, economic vitality (business and entrepreneur), community and social wellness and workforce and education. It will outline steps, actionable items and opportunities for the community to take for sustainable community recovery and resilience.   

Communities will receive funding ($50,000) to implement a community project from their report, customized technical assistance from MDF based on their needs and priorities identified in their assessment. Two community leaders from each community will participate in MDF’s Institute for Civic Leadership program, an intensive leadership experience designed to equip leaders with the skills to collaboratively develop and lead economic recovery and resilience strategies in their community.