Charting Maine’s Future

As you probably already know, GrowSmart Maine has been working with the Town of Standish, through our Model Town project, to facilitate citizen-led efforts to implement “smart growth” strategies from Standish’s new Comprehensive Plan.

We’re now reaching the conclusion of our work in Standish, and the ‘Lessons Learned’ - what worked and what didn’t work - from this demonstration project will be applicable and valuable to numerous communities across the State. In these workshops, we’ll share the wide range of innovative planning techniques and methods used throughout the Model Town project, including keypad polling technology at public workshops and cutting edge visualization techniques, and creative public engagement activities with other communities working to implement their comprehensive plans. Read below or visit our website for more information about these workshops, and to register.

Also, you may be interested in this video produced by Standish town officials and Saco River TV that explains the concepts of the Standish Village Plan.

By Choice or by Chance: The Standish Village Plan from srctv on Vimeo.

Dates & Locations:

Workshop #1: Caribou
Date: June 21
Time: Noon – 4:30 pm
Location: Northern Maine Development Commission, Conference Room
11 West Presque Isle Rd, Caribou, Maine
Click here to register!

Workshop #2: Farmington
Date: June 28
Time: Noon – 4:30 pm
Location: The Granary Brewpub & Restaurant
147 Pleasant Street, Farmington, Maine
Click here to register!

Workshop #3: Topsham
Date: June 30
Time: Noon – 4:30 pm
Location: The Highlands at Topsham
Holden Frost House Ballroom, 24 Elm Street, Topsham, Maine
* In partnership with the Friends of Midcoast Maine
Click here to register!

On Election Day eve, we at GrowSmart Maine want to reach out with information about Communities for Maine’s Future and the Question 4 Bond.

It has been said that Maine’s economic development does not hinge on a single “silver bullet” approach, but instead will come with “a silver buckshot” approach, involving a targeted combination of incentives and programs. Question 4 represents just such a plan!

We encourage you to share this information with your friends and neighbors, and to vote YES on 4 tomorrow!

Programs Included in Question 4

This $23,750,000 bond issue for capital investment to stimulate economic development and job creation will leverage an additional $40,000,000 in private and federal funds. If approved, these programs will have real, immediate statewide impact and will create meaningful, productive jobs in the private sector for Maine workers.

Maine Historic Preservation Committee - $1,250,000
This program establishes a new tool to allow organizations to buy historically significant buildings at risk of destruction, resell the building to a private owner who agrees to rehabilitate it, and put easements in place to ensure the integrity of the building. Upon resale, the money will be returned to the fund, where it will be available for future projects.

Department of Community and Economic Development - $3,500,000
Provides funds to make investments under the Communities for Maine’s Future Program in competitive community and economic revitalization projects, which must be matched with at least $3,500,000. CMF focuses on projects that are part of an overall plan for the community and encourages collaboration by numerous community organizations. Funds can be used for a variety of revitalization projects, such as renovating a library or town hall, or installing sidewalks so the downtowns and village centers will offer more to local citizens.

Maine Technology Institute - $3,000,000
This program provides competitive awards for companies to invest in research and development or to commercialize a project, the phase of private enterprise where jobs are created and profits are possible. Partnering with the private sector makes MTI’s work essential to growing Maine’s economy. Grants must be awarded to Maine-based public and private institutions and must be awarded to leverage matching funds of at least $3,000,000.

Brunswick Naval Air Station Redevelopment - $8,000,000
This program will fund the redevelopment of BNAS to Brunswick Landing: Maine’s Center for Innovation The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority will be working with Southern Maine Community College to begin upgrading the former Brunswick Naval Air Station to become a critically needed new campus with an Advanced Technology and Engineering Center. These funds will leverage $32,500,000 in federal funds.

Finance Authority of Maine - $1,000,000
This program requires an equal match for each project for competitive awards to be invested in food processing infrastructure for Maine’s seafood and agricultural sectors.

Economic Recovery Loan Program - $3,000,000
Also administered through Finance Authority of Maine, this program provides “gap financing” to assist businesses in their efforts to remain viable and/or improve productivity. The funds are also used for energy related loans, hi-tech loans, and quick response loans following natural disasters. Due to the current economic climate in the state, as well as the outlook through 2011, demand for these funds by Maine businesses as they weather the economic storm will be significant.

Small Enterprise Growth Fund - $4,000,000
The Small Enterprise Growth Fund is a Maine venture capital fund that invests solely in new Maine start-up companies in a wide variety of industries. The SEGF will use the proceeds to assist companies who grow and create high paying jobs within the state.

Helpful links:
Communities for Maine’s Future page on our website
- Read more about program specifics, and how downtown revitalization creates jobs, makes downtowns more attractive places to live, promotes energy efficiency and helps to preserve open space.

Summary of Question 4 bond programs from the Kennebec Journal
-Bullet point explanation of each Question 4 program.

Secretary of State’s Citizen’s Guide to the Referendum Election
-This is a comprehensive guide for all ballot items. Information for Question 4 starts on page 42 of the document.

Where to vote!
-Find your polling place at maine.gov.

This Lewiston Sun Journal article reports that the Farmington Downtown Association recently held a well-attended public forum to discuss downtown revitalization efforts. Today’s Morning Sentinel also features this story about a series of facade improvements and public space investments beginning in Waterville funded by a community development block grant. Great news for vibrant downtowns!

These are also examples of the kinds of economic and community development that will be featured at the Revitalizing Maine Communities Conference on June 3 & 4 in Augusta. Last year, I attended a great session that Shannon Haines, Executive Director of Waterville Main Street (and prominently featured in the Sentinel article) and Rachael Weyand, of Heart of Biddeford, presented at the Maine Downtown Conference in Rockland. They shared the successes and challenges of some of Waterville and Biddeford’s respective efforts to foster and grow their creative economies. The session, held in a downtown Rockland gallery, resulted in an engaging conversation with all of the participants about the importance of the creative economy in communities of all sizes. Shannon will be leading a workshop again this year at the Revitalizing Maine Communities Conference about Barrels Community Market, a nonprofit market that sells locally produced wares, that Waterville Main Street developed and founded.

Visit the conference website for the full listing of workshops.

GrowSmart Maine is pleased to partner with Maine Downtown Center and Maine Preservation to present the Revitalizing Maine Communities Conference in downtown Augusta on June 3 & 4. For more information, click here.

This dynamic two-day conference will showcase the economic value of downtown revitalization and historic preservation. Nationally-recognized keynote speakers include economic guru Donovan Rypkema and community branding specialist Tripp Muldrow. Twenty-four workshops provide training with a focus on real solutions for Maine. Honor awards celebrate innovation, leadership and success. Networking opportunities provide memorable connections, all located in historic downtown Augusta.

Maine Downtown Center, Maine Preservation, and GrowSmart Maine have worked in partnership in the Maine Downtown Coalition, and in advocating for legislation in Augusta (like the Historic Preservation Tax Credit and Communities for Maine’s Future). We are looking forward to this two-day event that will highlight, develop, and grow the connections between vibrant downtowns, historic preservation, economic development and Maine’s Quality of Place.

Register today!

The conference is sponsored by:

Lead Sponsor:
Bangor Savings Bank

Major Sponsor:
Department of Economic and Community Development

Partners and Champions:
Lipman Katz & McKee
Consigli Construction Co. Inc.
Eaton Peabody Consulting Group, LLP
Wright-Pierce
Maine Turnpike Authority
MaineGeneral Health
R.H. Reny, Inc.
WBRC Architects - Engineers

Supporters and Friends:
Norway Savings Bank
Verrill Dana, LLP
Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce
Kennebec Valley Council of Governments
Mattson
Sutherland Conservation & Consulting

Today’s Mainebiz features GrowSmart Maine’s new Executive Director Nancy Smith in its “Newsworthy” section. Read the full article here.

And if you’re flipping through the print version of Mainebiz, Doug Rooks also wrote a piece about Kevin Mattson of Mattson Development, one of GrowSmart’s partners in advocating for the Historic Preservation Tax Credit and Communities for Maine’s Future.

Stay tuned to this blog in the coming weeks for more about the Communities for Maine’s Future bond vote on June 8th.

Maine Trust for Public Land and the Maine Association of Planners are hosting a screening of the documentary Portland: Quest for the Liveable City this Wednesday evening, followed by a panel discussion (see below for details). Watch the film’s trailer here.

GrowSmart staff will be attending the film, and we hope that you’ll join us there for an engaging discussion about Portland, Maine’s growth.

Event details:
Film and Panel Discussion, Portland: Quest for the Liveable City
when: Wednesday, March 31st, 6:00 - 8:00pm
where: One Longfellow Square, Portland

In 1972, Portland, OR passed a radical zoning law creating a 22-square-mile development limit. In the years since, it has prided itself as “the City That Works.”

But that success came with plenty of controversy, as those beyond the limit felt robbed of the value of their land.

As Maine continues to grow and greater Portland continues to spread, is it time for us to consider a similar solution? Can Maine “grow smart” and is this the way?

On March 31st The Trust for Public Land with the help of the Maine Planners Association will present the Northern Lights production, “Portland: Quest for the Liveable City.” This one hour documentary examines the people and the place governed by a land-use unicorn: a strict regional growth limit.

The film will be shown at One Longfellow Square and followed by a panel discussion with local experts and activists. There will be a cash bar and refreshments will be served. There is no admission, though contributions are welcome.

Panelists:
Malory Shaughnessy, County Commissioner
Christian MilNeal, transportation and smart growth activist
Jim Cohen, municipal official and regional advocate
Rebeccah Schaffner-Tousignant, regional planner

Contact: Jim Gooch, Program Director, The Maine CommunityScape Initiative at The Trust for Public Land
jim.gooch@tpl.org
772-7424 x5

We are very pleased to announce that Nancy E. Smith will be our new executive director! Here’s the full press release for details.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2010

GrowSmart Maine names Nancy E. Smith as new executive director

PORTLAND, Maine – Nancy E. Smith of Monmouth has been named as the new executive director of GrowSmart Maine, a statewide organization that promotes sustainable prosperity for Maine. She will assume the post in early May.

Currently, Smith serves in the Maine State Legislature representing Monmouth, Litchfield and Wales, and she and her husband operate a diversified livestock farm in Monmouth. She is House Chair of the Business, Research, and Economic Development Committee and serves on the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee.

“We are delighted to welcome Nancy Smith as the new leader of GrowSmart Maine,” said Bonita Pothier of Biddeford, chair of the board of directors. “Nancy’s knowledge about the natural environment, personal understanding of the challenges facing small businesses and experience in Augusta position her uniquely to carry out the mission of GrowSmart Maine.”

Lynne Seeley, chair of the search committee said, “GrowSmart is working to connect those who care about Maine’s natural environment with those who care about economic development – our Quality of Place initiative involves both. Nancy brings the experience and vision we need to promote collaboration among many different groups to protect Maine’s Quality of Place.”

Smith will hit the ground running to promote several key GrowSmart initiatives including an upcoming report on Reinventing Maine Government, the Communities for Maine’s Future bond package intended to spark development in downtown areas, the Maine Model Town program that helps cities and towns to develop smart growth strategies, and GrowSmart’s ongoing Quality of Place work.

Smith has lived and worked in Maine since 1981 and lives with her family at Snafu Acres Dairy Farm in Monmouth. In addition to serving in the legislature and running an organic farm, Nancy is a licensed forester. She serves on the boards of the Maine Economic Growth Council, Maine Rural Partners, and Council of State Governments, Eastern Regional Conference.

GrowSmart Maine was founded in 2003 and promotes sustainable prosperity for all Mainers by integrating working and natural landscape conservation, economic growth, and community revitalization. It promotes 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.

GrowSmart Maine’s staff planner Bruce Hyman will be attending the Gorham East-West Corridor Study public meeting tonight as a member of the study’s advisory council. He’ll be wearing his ‘GrowSmart hat’ in addition to a few others to advocate for smart growth transportation options for the area.

If you live, work, or travel in the Gorham, Westbrook, Scarborough and South Portland area, we encourage you to attend this meeting and share your thoughts and ideas about what future transportation infrastructure should include. Here are the event details:

Gorham East-West Corridor Study Public Meeting
when: Thursday, March 25, 6:00 - 8:00pm
where: Maine Turnpike Authority, Skyway Drive (Adjacent to Maine Turnpike Exit 46 southbound toll plaza) Portland, Maine

The Gorham East-West Corridor Feasibility Study is a major transportation and land use study of the Gorham, Westbrook, Scarborough and South Portland area. This area has historically been the fastest-growing residential region in Maine and as such, is subject to increasing traffic congestion, decreasing traffic safety and the loss of its treasured rural character.

Projections show 70% of the new homes and jobs in Maine over the next 25 years will locate in this part of Cumberland and York County - that’s about 35,000 new homes and about 25,000 new jobs.

Area residents and business owners are encouraged to attend this meeting to help determine the best way to manage this projected growth and to provide input on potential transportation and land use solutions.

The public is encouraged to ask questions and make comments during this meeting.

For more information on the study or questions about this meeting, visit
http://www.gorhamcorridor.org or call Carol Morris at 207-329-6502.

GrowSmart joined 39 other Maine organizations as the Maine Federal Climate Coalition to sign a letter to Maine’s U.S. Senators calling for federal climate and clean energy legislation. In a press conference on Tuesday in Augusta kicking off ‘40 Days of Earth Day,’ representatives from the 40 organizations urged lawmakers to take the lead in passing clean energy and climate reform legislation this year. Lock Kiermaier, Advocacy & Outreach Coordinator, attended on behalf of GrowSmart Maine, though he was not able to crowd into the above picture.

Here’s an excerpt from the letter:

Unaddressed, climate change poses a serious long-term threat to Maine’s economy, environment, and the health and quality of life of Maine people. Researchers at the University of Maine’s Climate Change Institute have shown that significant changes already are underway due to climate change, and are likely to worsen. That is why action is needed now. Addressing climate change has become an urgent requirement if we hope to provide a sustainable world for future generations.

Maine businesses are well-positioned to play a meaningful role in creating a clean energy
economy, and will do so if Congress passes a comprehensive climate and clean energy bill that invests in energy efficiency and renewable energy development, while capping greenhouse gas emissions so that we reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

A new report from Rutgers University on the Federal Historic Tax Credit (read it here) has found that, in short, preservation = jobs. Here is a summary of some of the cumulative impacts (1978 - 2008) of the federal historic tax credit from the Rutgers report:

• An inflation-adjusted (2008 dollars) $16.6 billion federal historic tax credit
cost to date has encouraged a five times greater amount of historic
rehabilitation ($85 billion).
• This rehabilitation investment has generated about 1.8 million new jobs and
billions of dollars of total (direct and secondary) economic gains.
• The cumulative impacts to the national economy include: output ($198
billion), gross domestic product ($98 billion), income ($72 billion), and taxes
($29 billion, including $21 billion in federal tax receipts).
• The leverage and multiplier benefits as noted above give support to the
argument that the federal HTC is a strategic investment. Our results also
show that the federal cost of the HTC—a cumulative $16.6 billion in 2008
inflation-adjusted dollars—is more than offset by the $21 billion in federal
taxes realized to date.

This is great news for Maine, with the expansion of our state’s historic preservation tax credit that GrowSmart Maine and our allies helped pass in 2008. Projects like the Hathaway Creative Center in Waterville and the couples in Gardiner who have purchased buildings in the heart of its downtown (as reported by the Kennebec Journal last month) are just a few examples of how Maine’s historic tax credit will help sustain redevelopment efforts in our downtowns.

Given the findings of this report, eliminating funding for two national historic preservation programs in the FY 2011 federal budget seems to be a short-sighted budget cut. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is asking its advocates to contact their members of Congress in support of restoring funding to the national Save America’s Treasures and Preserve America programs. Read more about them here and take action to contact your representatives in Congress here. Our Board Chair, Bonita Pothier, will be writing to our members of Congress on behalf of GrowSmart, and we hope that you do the same!