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Sponsored by: Maine Real Estate & Development Association
June 2, 2025 Groundbreaking Maine 2025

As MEREDA marks 40 years, it tackles what’s ahead

A special thank you to Mainebiz for inviting us to partner in this exciting publication, Groundbreaking Maine. We are grateful for your continued support in amplifying the achievements and contributions of the real estate community. This publication highlights the remarkable work of our 2024 Notable Project Award recipients and puts a well-deserved spotlight on the innovators, general contractors, engineers, and architects behind the projects that showcase responsible development in action.

Photo / Courtesy of MEREDA
Shelly R. Clark, Executive Director of MEREDA

Responsible development is at the core of the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s mission and 2025 marks our 40th anniversary. It’s incredible that a small group of dedicated professionals came together four decades ago to form MEREDA with a vision to strengthen and advocate for our sector. Today, we stand as a unified voice representing not just the growth of Maine’s real estate industry, but also the commitment and contributions of our members in driving the industry forward.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have been part of MEREDA’s story for nearly 30 of those 40 years. To have a job I love, working with a dedicated team and passionate members, is truly a privilege. The relationships we’ve built, the challenges we’ve overcome, and the accomplishments we’ve achieved together have made these years not only fulfilling but rewarding.

MEREDA has a long history of successful advocacy before the Maine State Legislature. Guided by the work of our Public Policy Committee, MEREDA seeks to enact a fair, practical, and predictable policy landscape for responsible real estate development in Maine. To achieve this goal, MEREDA calls upon the expertise of its diverse membership, tackling issues from land use and environmental engineering to legal precedent and municipal technical assistance support. MEREDA’s membership has always risen to the call, providing the backbone of support for so many of our legislative successes.

From navigating legislative changes to creating networking events where industry leaders collaborate, MEREDA has fostered an environment that encourages innovation and excellence in all aspects of real estate. Today, we are a leader in smart, sensible housing policy. In the 132nd Legislature, MEREDA’s legislative priorities take aim at specific barriers to housing creation, work to restrict municipalities from unfairly limiting local housing options, remove restrictions from private property to allow more entrepreneurial housing creation, and balance needed housing creation and market conditions with responsible development standards. Additionally, MEREDA is working with a coalition of housing advocates to support a number of recommendations from the recently commissioned Roadmap for the Future of Housing Production in Maine.

MEREDA believes that real estate development is community development, and that growth of our communities can only occur when the landscape for development is fair, practical, and predictable. We look forward to continuing to work with our allies, partners and the legislature, to advance more legislation that supports our mission and builds a better future for all Mainers.

This 40th anniversary is not just a celebration of MEREDA’s accomplishments, but also a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our members who continue to shape Maine’s future. Their support has been essential to our success, and we are excited about what the next 40 years hold for all of us.

— Shelly R. Clark,
Executive Director,
 MEREDA