Maine has 20 official Maine Network Communities. One of the newest is Gorham which achieved that designation last November at a Maine Downtown Center celebration in Westbrook. Dan Nichols of the Gorham Village Alliance organizing committee was our guest and speaker on March 20, along with Tom Ellsworth, the Gorham Economic Development Corporation Director (GEDCD). We also welcomed Gorham Town Councilors Ben Hartwell and Sherrie Benner.
The GEDC has been around since 1991 and is funded by the Town of Gorham. Tom is their first director. Economic development is fundamentally: 1) job creation and 2) tax base retention and expansion. Tom pointed to two recent examples: Sebago Brewing, which had outgrown its space, was retained through hard work to help them find their new location on RT 25, and then they attracted Lone Pine Brewing to take over the former Sebago Brewing space in the industrial park.
Dan Nichols (L) and Tom Ellsworth (R)
GEDC has developments their own loan program. This program has been used to improve store signage along Main St. Also, anyone who has visited Gorham recently has seen the flurry of construction. This includes a building that will house apartments and a bowling alley that is being constructed by Great Falls Construction on the road behind Hannaford. The two existing industrial parks are now full and a new one is being targeted for land off RT 202.
About 18 months ago, Gorham started discussions with the Maine Development Foundation’s Maine Downtown Center program. The Gorham Village Alliance (GVA) was formed and has 20 core volunteer members. As a Maine Network Community, funding is derived about 1/3 from community funds, 1/3 from fundraising, and 1/3 from local business.
Dan Nichols
The GVA structure includes an Organization Committee to build partnerships and common goals; a Promotion Committee to build a positive image, promote community pride, and improve consumer and investor confidence; an Economic Vitality Committee to strengthen downtown’s existing assets while building and diversifying the economic base; and a Design Committee to get the main streets into top physical shape, creating a walkable inviting atmosphere. It should be noted that our own Ethan Johnson is on the Economic Vitality Committee.
The GVA is participating in the Gorham Marketplace event being held March 31 at USM (See Opportunities above). They also plan on holding their first “Sparkle Project” in late April to clean up the Village District from the wear and tear of the winter season. Westbrook-Gorham Rotary members are invited to participate!
For those interested, the GVA meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month 6-7:30PM at Gorham Savings Bank.
Councilor Sherrie Benner looks on while
Tom Ellsworth signs a books for Baxter Library