A Call to Arms!

What an exciting time!
As the Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee begins working on goals and strategies for the upcoming year, we are excited about all the wonderful things that are in the works to help us re-energize our great city.
We will be putting together community events, helping new businesses to locate on Main Street, and working to ensure that our Main Street is kept clean, decorated appropriately, and made a warm and welcoming destination for all who come here.
Our PIDRC members are energetic and dedicated. We’re excited about all the things we are going to be doing. The main committee is full of suggestions and we’re very motivated to begin implementing our plans. The smaller committees (Organization, Design, Promotions, and Economic Restructuring) are “ready and rarin’ to go” to fulfill their duties as well.
BUT …
This all takes person-power.
Remember our walk through the neighborhood of Whatcouldbe? As we strolled through there, you pictured the things you’d like to see downtown. Perhaps a movie theater. Perhaps some clothing stores, or some craft stores. Perhaps a nice little coffee shop or spot to go to just so you can be with friends for an hour. Perhaps a place that families could spend quality time together. Perhaps some nice, little specialty shops.
These things can happen.
But it takes person-power. We need your help. We need members for our large-group PIDRC committee, which meets on the first and third Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. at the Chamber office on the Houlton Road. We also need members for our four smaller committees. The Organization Committee helps get everyone working toward the same goal and promotes the work of the PIDRC. The Promotion Committee sells the image and promise of Main Street to all prospects and promotes the downtown as the center of commerce, culture, and community life for residents and visitors alike. The Design Committee helps get the Main Street into top physical shape, works to protect and enhance downtown Presque Isle’s built environment, and preserves its unique sense of place. And the Economic Restructuring Committee is charged with finding a new purpose for Main Street’s enterprises and strengthening existing businesses while attracting new businesses to Presque Isle. We need people for all of these committees. We need professionals and we need private citizens.
A common response to this call to arms might be, “Wow. I would like to help, but I just don’t have the time.” In this day and age, that’s very true. But can you afford not to help? Isn’t it important to help with the process of bringing energy, not to mention convenience, back to Main Street, for your sake, as well as for the sake of your friends, family, and future generations? If we don’t get this energy back, if we don’t provide a destination for people to come to and enjoy, what will happen if the bypass ever becomes a reality? Wouldn’t you like to be part of an initiative that you can be proud of – that your family can be proud of and that will make Presque Isle a more vital place for your children and grandchildren, right on down the line?
If you could donate a couple of hours a week to helping us revitalize Presque Isle, just think of what we could do together! And think of the sense of community spirit we could raise! You can get more information or sign up to join us by calling Cathy Beaulieu at Wilder’s Jewelry Store (764-0309), Patty LeBlanc (769-7731) or Sandy Gauvin (764-0876). We look forward to hearing from you!    We need you!
Please write us with your thoughts and opinions. It’s your city and we need your input. You can write us at: The Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee, 411 Main St., Presque Isle, Maine 04769, or you can e-mail us at pidrc@yahoo.com.
The Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee is
an ad hoc committee of the Presque Isle City Council