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?
