Dedication of ‘outspoken champions’ is making a difference, volunteers are essential to long-term success
By Mark Putnam
Managing editor
PRESQUE ISLE — Several communities in northern Maine are making impressive strides in their ongoing efforts to revitalize their historic downtown districts. Officials with the Maine Development Foundation were here recently to celebrate what has been accomplished and inspire local leaders to keep working toward their goal of creating community centers that are not only pleasing to look at, but economically viable for business and industry.
The event, promoted as Aroostook County Downtown Day, was held Nov. 9 at the Northeastland Hotel in Presque Isle and attracted nearly 30 participants. Roxanne Eflin, senior program director for the Augusta-based Maine Downtown Center, said she sees Aroostook County making steady progress in the ongoing process to rebuild and transform Main Street.
“In every case across Maine, where downtowns and village centers are vibrant and successful, local leaders with great positive attitudes are at the core,” Eflin said. “We are impressed with the leadership and dedication to positive change shown in Houlton, Presque Isle, Van Buren and Madawaska. Each of these downtowns has a handful of outspoken champions and good support from their respective municipalities. These people, however, are mostly volunteers and they are not tireless. Many more people are needed to share the tasks and the success to really make things happen downtown.”
To that end, the hands-on workshop pulled in leaders from the public and private sectors including municipal managers, chamber of commerce directors, economic development specialists, business owners and service organizations. Guest presentations were made by Jon Edgerton of Wright-Pierce; Steve Cole of Coastal Enterprises, Inc.; Abbe Levin of the Maine Office of Tourism; and Lorain Francis of Rockland Main Street Inc.
Attendees agreed that the session also provided the perfect opportunity for those who have been involved in downtown redevelopment to share what is working and where the biggest challenges remain.
Dan LaPointe, Van Buren’s economic and community development director was especiall glad to see state officials show the commitment to Aroostook County by traveling several hundred miles north for the workshop.
“I’m glad that the Downtown Center finally had an Aroostook Day to go over the Main Street program. People who normally would not travel to Augusta were able to participate namely Caribou and Fort Fairfield,” he said.
For LaPointe, the biggest takeaway from the meeting were the presentations made by northern Maine communities for a northern Maine audience. “The experience that Houlton and Presque Isle described that apply to all communities with a Main Street, namely that an organized Downtown Committee using the four-committee approach and small steps can be successful in revitalizing the community” can prove helpful in the ongoing challenge to encourage local people to shop locally, he said.
Erica Quin-Easter, executive director of Women, Work and Community, brought a unique perspective to the workshop as she is not an Aroostook County native and spends much of her work week split between Caribou and Presque Isle.
“Sustainable small businesses and new start-ups are a good measure of downtown success. In Presque Isle, Wintergreen Arts Center, the Whole Potato Cafe and Commons, and other businesses have brightened the face of downtown and added to the arts district flavor of Main Street. In Caribou, retailers like the Cubby, Brambleberry Market, Sweet Dreams Candy & Bake Shoppe, Works of Heart, and other shops have grown in the heart of town and are keeping customers in Caribou,” she said.
While communities like Fort Fairfield and Presque Isle are finding success, those in attendance agreed that the task of downtown redevelopment is ongoing and places great demands on those most involved in the effort. A need for more volunteers and leaders who have time to devote to the mission is a universal challenge.
Said Elfin, “the attendees at the Aroostook County Downtown Day event impressed us as being passionate and driven to help improve their downtown for the future. All the tools and assets are there — now more people need to get organized around a common vision and focus their energies downtown. Taking care of the heart is the critical first step to keep the beat going on Main Street.
“Changes in attitude are sometimes slow but they are definite and public support for change will build as downtown programs grow and demonstrate improvement,” she added.
Quin-Easter believes Aroostook County communities have what it takes to reinvent themselves. “A small group of committed people can make a difference. Even with small budgets and population bases, cities and towns with a can-do attitude can attract investment, business, tourism, and citizen involvement in downtown,” she said.
