Grant will boost Main Street Skowhegan's economic development work
Courtesy / McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group
A rendering of the planned $4.9 million Run of River whitewater park in the Kennebec River Gorge in Skowhegan. Main Street Skowhegan, which is project managing and fundraising for development of the park, recently was awarded a $15,000 grant from Skowhegan Savings Bank to support the organization's economic development initiatives.
Main Street Skowhegan has received a $15,000 grant from Skowhegan Savings Bank that will help support the work the nonprofit is doing to implement the town's Strategic Plan for Community Transformation.
The strategic plan was approved at the town's annual town meeting in 2016, with the goals of growing the local economy and making Skowhegan more of a tourist destination. Main Street Skowhegan has been making progress on initiatives, both big and small, since then.
The grant will support action steps the organization plans this year, including technical assistance mini-grants to local entrepreneurs, and also help it continue work on things like the $4.9 million Run of River Whitewater Park planned for the Kennebec River gorge downtown.
The overall goal of the strategic plan is to make Skowhegan a thriving economic, cultural, and recreational destination where residents enjoy a high quality of life, said Kristina Cannon, executive director of Main Street Skowhegan.
Skowhegan Savings Bank has been a "lead partner for many years, and we could not continue the important work of ensuring Skowhegan's best future without their generosity," she said in a news release announcing the grant.
David Cyr, CEO of the bank said, that the grant is part of the bank's mission to make communities a better place to live and work. "We're proud to be able to support Main Street Skowhegan because they play an active role in the growth and betterment of Skowhegan," he said.
Economically growing the region
Skowhegan, with a population of about 9,800, is the largest municipality in rural north-central Somerset County, and Main Street Skowhegan's programs are also aimed at supporting the region. Cannon has said.
Major planned and ongoing programs include:
- Collaboration with the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Operation Game Thief program on Operation Maine Outdoors, which will celebrate life in the Maine outdoors;
- Further development and fundraising for the Run of River Whitewater Recreation Area;
- Implementing Kennebec on Fire in partnership with the Wesserunsett Arts Council, including placing the first sculpture in the Kennebec River and coordinating a lighting ceremony;
- Planning, executing, fine-tuning, and augmenting a number of annual events to engage residents and attract visitors; and promoting Skowhegan via ads, social media, the Skowhegan Visitors’ Guide, and other marketing efforts.
- A number of outdoors, recreation and community initiatives including a "Meet Your Neighbor" proram, the second year of the Skowhegan AmeriCorps Outdoor Recreation initiative, collaborating on the Somerset Trails Collaborative to better promote local trails and more.
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