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Updated: 4 minutes ago 2025 Fact Book: Doing Business in Maine

Bangor: Big Energy. Bold Ideas. Boundless Opportunity

File Photo

Where Ambition Meets Belonging

With a population of 33,000 and a daytime surge to over 120,000, Bangor offers something rare: the connectivity of a small town with the ambition of a growing city. People move here for opportunity but stay for the lifestyle from neighbors who wave, colleagues who collaborate, and a community that values hard work, laughter, and truly living!

You’ll find vibrant historic neighborhoods, a walkable downtown, and a food and shopping scene that reflects the character of the people: warm, inventive, and full of life. The 680-acre City Forest and nearby rivers, parks, and trails make Bangor an ideal place for professionals, families, and retirees alike.

A Launchpad for Global Trade and Innovation

Bangor is home to Foreign Trade Zone #58, positioning our businesses to compete on a global scale. With access to tariff benefits, streamlined customs procedures, and Bangor International Airport just minutes from our industrial parks, companies engaged in international trade find a competitive edge here. City-owned development-ready properties (many former military sites) are ideal for office, distribution, and light manufacturing.

This is a place where new ideas stick. Our downtown is a hub of creativity, and Bangor’s business scene includes cutting-edge partnerships with the University of Maine. Entrepreneurs can access tools and support to grow, including the Bangor Innovation Center and the soon-to-launch 18,000-square-foot Central Kitchen, designed to boost food production and distribution in the region.

PHOTO Courtesy of Bangor Innovation Center
Innovation in Action at the Bangor Innovation Center — partnering with universities and growing Bangor’s future workforce!

Culture, Concerts, and a Whole Lot of Fun

Bangor knows how to deliver big moments. Our waterfront concert venue welcomes up to 18,000 fans and this year has hosted major acts like Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, and Chicago. The Cross Insurance Center brings year-round performances, conventions, and sporting events to the heart of the city. Add in a casino, racetrack, art galleries, and live theater, and you’ll see why Bangor punches well above its weight in entertainment.

And when you’re ready to explore, world-renowned destinations like Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Katahdin and dozens of lakes, trails, and ski mountains are all within a short drive.

Health Care, Education, and Workforce

Bangor is a regional center for health care, anchored by Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center and St. Joseph Healthcare, offering top-tier care that helps attract both families and businesses.

The city also has a strong education and workforce pipeline. Institutions like Husson University, Eastern Maine Community College, and UMA–Bangor provide career-focused training, while nearby University of Maine at Orono partners with Bangor on innovation, and workforce readiness.

Grounded and Growing

What sets Bangor apart is its people. Welcoming, forward-thinking, and engaged in their community, Bangor residents make this a place where ideas grow and people thrive. Whether you’re from here or from away, Bangor embraces differences and makes room for all. City government works alongside local leaders to ensure Bangor remains a great place to start a business, raise a family, or make a fresh start.

Come for the opportunity. Stay for the life.

Bangor is bold, connected, and full of momentum, and the best is yet to come!

Istock photo
West Market Square, at the heart of Bangor. Where community, business, and opportunity come together.

City of Bangor Community & Economic Development Department

262 Harlow St., Bangor 04401

Anne M. Krieg, AICP

(207) 992-4280

anne.krieg@bangormaine.gov

www.bangormaine.gov