ECONOMIC

SUCCESS…

IN DOWNTOWNS AND

COMMERCIAL STRIPS

GROWSMART MAINE SUMMIT 2014

SUCCESS STORIES

Kennebunk Mat Eddy, Economic Development Director

Houlton Nancy Ketch, Community Development Director

Falmouth Theo Holtwijk, Director of Long-Range Planning and

Economic Development

INTRODUCTION TO

OUR COMMUNITIES

What are the characteristics of your

commercial / downtown area and how it has

developed over the past decade?

KENNEBUNK

HOULTON

FALMOUTH

LOCAL BUY-IN

Getting early local buy-in on vision, zoning and

financial investment - and not wasting hard-

earned “community capital” - is very important.

• How did each of you approach it?

• How long does this process take?

YOUNG PEOPLE

What role can and do young people play in a

community’s success, both in becoming

movers and shakers and in wanting certain

amenities?

THE PRIVATE SECTOR

How did you involve that critical private sector:

developers, building and/or business owners?

How important is it to make it easy for them?

How did you do so?

WORKING TOGETHER…

Can you get private sector members to work

together?

Is there value in creating regional work groups

around development issues?