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Updated: March 30, 2020

Ellsworth business group is named a Maine Downtown Affiliate

Courtesy / Heidi Stanton-Drew   Heart of Ellsworth board and affiliate application team members gathered in front of Ellsworth City Hall, before social distancing rules were implemented, to celebrate the organization’s affiliate community status with the Maine Downtown Center.

Heart of Ellsworth, a nonprofit representing downtown merchants, last week joined 17 other community organizations from across the state in the Maine Downtown Center Affiliate Program. 

Affiliates typically are in the early stages of downtown revitalization and through the program receive training, share best practices and network with peers around the state, according to a news release.

“Ellsworth has many downtown assets including significant historic buildings, a vibrant theater and downtown business community and, most importantly, a community that is proud of their downtown and committed to preserving it,” Anne Ball, the program’s director, said in the release. 

Maine Downtown Center is a program of the Maine Development Foundation in Hallowell. Last year, the program added that city, as well as Caribou and the Woodford's Corner section of Portland, as affiliates.

Heart of Ellsworth demonstrated its readiness to join the program through an extensive assessment that included an online application, site visit, written commitment to the program and interview conducted by professional downtown revitalization experts that serve on the Maine Downtown Center advisory council.

“More than 30 Ellsworth area residents and businesses were involved in the application process,” Cara Romano, Heart of Ellsworth’s executive director, said in the release. “Our community is proud of this accomplishment and excited to continue our work to support current revitalization efforts downtown with a forward focus on Water Street and the Union River.” 

COURTESY / COREY CHANDLER
Heart of Ellsworth last week became the latest member of the Maine Development Foundation’s Maine Downtown Center Affiliate Program. Overall, the nonprofit seeks to support the business community through initiatives such as Taste of Ellsworth, seen here in 2018.

Maine Development Foundation has already begun working with Heart of Ellsworth to develop an organizational structure, train local leaders and pursue a four-pronged approach laid out by the National Main Street Center. 

“It will be great to partner with the Maine Downtown Center for guidance on best practices and creative ways to get work done in our community,” Phyllis Young, Heart of Ellsworth’s president, said in the release.

Among its initiatives to support Ellsworth’s downtown, Heart of Ellsworth in January launched a history project to encourage community collaboration, build a “sense of place” for Main Street entrepreneurs, and attract new businesses there.

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