MADAWASKA, Maine — In keeping with its revitalization momentum, the town of Madawaska has hired an economic and community development director.
Kristen Henry was formally hired on Sept. 22 with a starting salary of $78,500. This will increase to $80,000 after six months, according to Town Manager David Daigle.
In her first month on the job, Henry has undertaken grant applications, boosting Canadian tourism, collaborating with nearby communities and bringing new businesses into town. She wants to continue Madawaska’s path toward growth, which has included revitalizing the mid-town plaza and breaking ground on a new Bicentennial Park, and is counting on her diverse experience to help.
“It’s not a one-trick pony,” she said. “You really have to understand the bigger picture, and to be able to think abstractly, outside the box, to pull different elements together and create a project and follow it through to fruition.”
Henry’s varied background ranges from owning a marketing firm to graphic design and working with nonprofits. She most recently served as the Community Development Specialist and Project Manager for the Northern Maine Development Commission, which involved writing grants for Madawaska.
While at NMDC, Madawaska was one of her main clients, which allowed her to dive into her new position right away.
“Kristen brings a lot of energy, creativity and experience to this role,” Daigle said. “She understands that economic and community development go hand in hand. You can’t recruit investment to a place that doesn’t invest in itself. Community development is how we show pride, and it tells people we’re worth building.”
Born in Dover-Foxcroft, Henry was raised in South Carolina. She moved up to Grand Isle about five years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of Henry’s priorities is looking at ways to bring in tourism that goes beyond just winter activities, particularly with the past couple of mild winters resulting in lackluster snowmobile seasons.
As she has spoken with Madawaska residents, one commonly heard request is to bring either another fast food establishment to town like McDonald’s or another large retail store like Walmart or Target, she said.
The town lost its McDonald’s restaurant as part of the construction for the new international bridge and land port of entry, and lost its Kmart in early 2019 after Sears Holdings Corp. announced its plans to close 142 unprofitable stores across the country.
While she can’t reveal any specific details yet, Henry said the town is exploring opportunities to bring new businesses to the community.
She is also getting the ball rolling for collaborations with nearby communities on tourism initiatives and events. She is setting up meetings across the New Brunswick border with Edmundston Mayor Eric Marquis and also plans to work with neighboring Aroostook towns like Frenchville, St. Agatha and Grand Isle.
Henry is applying for several grants that are still in an early stage, including a $500,000 tourism-based initiative grant via the Northern Border Regional Commission. The funds would support the town’s Village Partnership Initiative with the Maine Department of Transportation, and also includes art installations and facade improvements for local businesses.
The $500,000 grant would require a 20% match from the town, which could provided via in-kind labor. The money would help turn the town’s fitness walking trail into an ice skating trail during the winter months. Several volunteer groups have already offered to support the labor involved with this.
“So there will be no taking money from the town to do this,” Henry said. “It’s all going to be volunteer, plus the monetary funding from NBRC.”
So far, feedback has been generally supportive from residents and it feels like the town is going through a period of positive change.
“People are so hopeful,” she said, “which is nice for Madawaska. I think it’s a kind of a catalyst moment for the community.”
Daigle agreed, adding with Henry in the new position, the town will be able to turn ideas into action.
“Kristen’s work will help strengthen the local economy while building a community people are proud to call home,” he said.
