PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The 2025 Aroostook County Housing Summit, hosted by Aroostook Partnership in collaboration with MaineHousing and the Genesis Community Loan Fund, successfully concluded on Oct. 30 at the Edmunds Conference Center at Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle. The event drew more than 90 participants including developers, municipal housing and economic development officials, bankers, real estate professionals and state housing officials.
The summit was well received by attendees who engaged in productive discussions about effective tools and strategies for spurring housing development across all income levels throughout Aroostook County. Building on the momentum from the 2024 summit, this year’s event fostered meaningful collaboration among key stakeholders working to address the region’s housing challenges.
“We are thrilled with the turnout and level of engagement at this year’s summit,” said Kiersten Purington, president and CEO of Aroostook Partnership. “The diverse representation from across the housing sector demonstrates a strong commitment to addressing our region’s housing needs. The insights shared and connections made today will be instrumental in advancing housing development projects throughout Aroostook County. We look forward to seeing the partnerships and projects that will emerge from the connections made at this summit.”
The full-day summit featured presentations from experienced speakers who shared their expertise and real-world experience in housing development and financing. Participants gained valuable insights into financing mechanisms, development strategies, and best practices for overcoming common challenges in rural housing development.
“One of our goals was to connect technical and financial resources with those in the housing development space throughout Aroostook County,” said Matt Nightingale, CFO Katahdin Trust Company and secretary/interim treasurer of the Aroostook Partnership Board of Directors. “Navigating the barriers to build and develop housing is a challenge. We’re thankful for the presenters taking the time to share their expertise and hope conversations started at this conference will continue.”
Additionally, the optional Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Workshop held on Oct. 29, provided specialized training to participants interested in leveraging historic preservation tax credits for development projects. Led by John Egan and Robyn Wardell from the Genesis Community Loan Fund, the workshop used case studies to guide participants through the successful application process.
“The Aroostook Partnership Housing Summit was an impressive event that highlighted the enthusiasm, vision, and energy our friends in Aroostook County have for improving housing availability and affordability in northernmost Maine,” said MaineHousing Development Director Mark Wiesendanger. “This conference is sowing the seeds for a stronger, thoughtful, and more active housing development community in The County. Congratulations to the organizers of this conference; it’s among the best I have attended in recent years in Maine. Well done!”
For more information about Aroostook Partnership’s housing initiatives, please visit www.aroostookpartnership.org or contact Purington at kpurington@aroostookpartnership.org.
