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A Message from the Executive Director Sticky

Dear Friend,

I have been serving as GrowSmart Maine’s Executive Director for 18 months.  It is an incredible experience, connecting with people all across the state, hearing what matters to you and sharing re-energized focus on our mission.  We are Maine’s only statewide non-profit, non-partisan organization working at the intersection of land conservation, economic development, and community revitalization.  We know that when these three segments of life are working well, are in sync, Maine will continue to be this place where we all choose to live, this . . . Maine . . . to which each of us is so dedicated.

As 2011 comes to a close and we turn our attention to 2012, I am asking you to become a donor to GrowSmart Maine.  If our work matters to you, please support our efforts with a tax-deductible contribution.  We’ve made it as easy as possible by accepting donations on our secure website, with the option of GiveSmart to GrowSmart - our recurring monthly debit plan,  and we certainly accept donations sent the good old fashioned way as well.

We have heard loud and clear that Charting Maine’s Future continues to be a valued and inspiring call to action for all of Maine.  We have also heard that the GrowSmart Maine Summit was an important event, providing a way to connect with people from across the state, engaging in conversations about issues that matter to Maine. In response, we have begun work on Charting Maine’s Future 2020, a progress report on the original action plan, updated with next steps, culminating in a 2012 Summit!

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"Quality of Place" What does it mean? Sticky

What brought you to Maine? Why do you stay? What keeps you coming back year after year? That is Quality of Place. The rocky coastline, the old growth forests, the rolling farmlands, the historic downtowns, the loon calls on still lakes, the 3rd generation family that works the fields, the farms and the fisheries. The quintessential Maine that we all have come to love - the thing that makes Maine...Maine - that is Quality of Place. That is what GrowSmart Maine strives to protect.

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Project Canopy

A collaboration between the Maine Forest Service and GrowSmart Maine, Project Canopy is Maine's urban and community forestry program. Our Mission: Create and maintain healthy urban and community forests for or economic, ecological, and quality of life benefits for Mainers.

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Advocacy

GrowSmart Maine is geared up and engaging in the 125th legislative session! As we weigh in on key issues, we will post our progress and views here on our site. We hope you too will engage in the process, sharing your thoughts with us and with your elected officials.

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Green/Brown Coalition

Over the past three years GrowSmart Maine has actively sought to build a ‘green/brown’ coalition, recognizing the link between our environment and our economy.

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ReEnvisioning the Highway Strip

How often do you find yourself stuck in traffic on a Saturday morning trying to get errands done? Stoplights at each block, cars cutting you off as they pull out of the numerous strip mall entrances – drives you crazy, right? Is there a better way?

GrowSmart Maine proudly announces the launch of a new community planning project entitled ReEnvisioning the Highway Strip.

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Reinventing Maine Government

How We Can Shape a Sustainable Government and a New Prosperity

Charting Maine's Future, the landmark Brookings Institution study sponsored by GrowSmart Maine, said that to achieve sustainable prosperity we must streamline and restructure Maine government. In doing so, we must free up critical resources to invest in our future.

GrowSmart Maine commissioned a follow-up report (written by EnvisionMaine) called Reinventing Maine Government that gathers viewpoints from varying perspectives.

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Maine Downtown Coalition

In 2007, GrowSmart Maine led the creation of the Maine Downtown Coalition, a collection of non profit organizations, town and city officials, Main Street programs, business people and others dedicated to revitalizing Maine communities and fostering redevelopment of some of our most unique assets: our historic Main Streets and downtown districts.

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Maine Model Town - Standish

Standish, a growing town of about 10,000, was selected for GrowSmart Maine's Model Town Project in part because of their readiness to implement their new Comprehensive Plan. GrowSmart Maine and its project team facilitated citizen-led efforts to implement "smart growth" strategies from Standish's new Comprehensive Plan. The project's key goals were to revitalize the village area around Standish Corner, attract new businesses, and conserve Standish's open spaces and rural character. On June 8th. 2011, the Standish town Council unanimously voted to adopt Form-Based Code. This makes Standish the first town in Maine to do so.

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