Governor Baldacci Signing Downtown Revitalization Bill

BATH -Governor Baldacci signed LD 1956, An Act to Recapitalize the Maine Downtown Center, on Saturday, June 17^th at 11:00 am at the Bath City Hall Auditorium.

The bill, sponsored by House Speaker John Richardson, will provide the Maine Downtown Center with $75,000 in funding to support the Center’s programming and add new communities to its Main Street Maine initiative dedicated to revitalizing downtowns.

“This was a very competitive appropriations cycle this year in the Legislature. Many worthy programs were pitted against each other,” explains Speaker Richardson. “Main Street supporters provided thorough and consistent information to warrant this investment.”

Bath is one of eight communities to have received intensive technical assistance and training through the Maine Downtown Center’ Main Street program. After the signing, Main Street Bath will host a celebration with refreshments and entertainment. 

“This is great news for Maine’s downtown communities,” said Bill King, Chair of the Maine Downtown Center’s Advisory Board and a downtown Bath merchant.  “The Main Street program has brought Bath to a unique level of vibrancy, with storefronts and upper floors that are virtually all full and in high demand.  We are delighted that the Legislature has recognized the success of the Main Street program through this appropriation.”

The Maine Downtown Center operates the Main Street Maine program in Saco, Norway, Bath, Gardiner, Waterville, Skowhegan, Eastport, and Van Buren. Since 2001, the program has resulted in:

• 91 net new downtown businesses
• 542 net new downtown jobs
• Over $24 million in new public and private downtown investments
• Over 74,000 volunteer hours

                                                      (September 30^th, 2002-December 30^th, 2005)

The Maine Downtown Center is a program of the Maine Development Foundation, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to sustainable, long term economic development for Maine.  MDF believes that vibrant downtowns are an economic engine of growth; serve as an attractant to young people, creative economic ventures, retirees, and diverse populations; and can mitigate costly sprawling land use development patterns.

“We’re thankful the Legislature recognizes that downtown revitalization is a critical component to a vibrant economy here in Maine”, said Laurie Lachance, President of the Maine Development Foundation.

The Maine Downtown Center was created by the legislature in 1999 to be the statewide resource for downtown revitalization efforts, and works with communities around the state that are developing and implementing downtown revitalization strategies.