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Updated: September 1, 2025 2025 Fact Book: Doing Business in Maine

City of South Portland: Building Resilience

Photo courtesy of City of South Portland Arial view of South Portland.

South Portland is pleased to announce that Lea Duffy has been appointed as its new economic development director. Duffy brings a diverse background in architecture, development, small business and real estate. She has a fresh perspective and innovative ideas to foster community connections, enhance collaboration between departments, and champion a philosophy that balances environment, economy and equity.

Adaptive and Responsive

South Portland’s prime location presents many opportunities for continued growth and development. Our “smart growth” approach carefully balances supporting the existing community and businesses while allowing growth in the tax base and job creation. South Portland recognizes the need to take a versatile stance to development, evaluate and re-evaluate, monitor trends and be responsive. Our focus is on expanding the local economy by seeking what is not yet known. It’s not about predicting the future, it’s about becoming unshakeable and resilient in any future.

Photo courtesy of City of South Portland
The 2024 Annual Business Awards Gala.

Building Bridges

South Portland sponsors a robust business awards program featuring a “business of the month” award as well as an annual gala. These programs not only demonstrate the city’s appreciation of its businesses, but can significantly benefit them through enhanced branding, improved employee morale, increased visibility and a stronger competitive edge. The value lies in the ability to recognize and celebrate accomplishments, boost credibility, promote economic diversity within the community and drive positive change.

Dynamic Solutions

South Portland will be updating its Comprehensive Plan later this year. The new plan will serve as the foundational document guiding the next 10-plus years of growth and development across the community and represents a collaborative vision of South Portland’s future. The plan will identify new growth areas which pave the way for substantial investment and development opportunities to address the city’s housing needs and capacity for future business growth, while balancing natural resources and the many characteristics that ensure quality of life. Next year (2026) will be a busy one as the city begins implementing this ambitious plan and amending the zoning ordinance to support smart growth strategies.

There are many projects already in the pipeline and we look forward to exploring more opportunities in the months ahead.

The city has a broad set of tools including tax increment financing, business loans and grant programs, Brownfields Assessment grants and cleanup loan programs. We are also looking forward to the upcoming modifications to the Exit 4 interchange on I-295 that will create south bound access to improve traffic and create additional development opportunities on U.S. Route 1/Main Street.

Photo courtesy of South Portland Housing Authority
South Portland Housing Authority’s Betsy Ross Crossing housing expansion, more info & applications at www.spha.net.

Holistic Foundations

South Portland has identified housing as one of its top priorities. We are excited about the current expansion at Betsy Ross House in the eastern waterfront, which added 52 affordable senior apartments. “Betsy Ross Crossing” opened in July. There are several other multi-family housing projects in the works on sites throughout the city, including both affordable and market rate units.

In addition to housing, workforce remains one of the region’s biggest challenges. This year the city will work with business leaders and educational institutions to launch a Workforce Round Table to create new connections and deepen conversations around available labor and honing strategies to attract talent and development of education programs to meet current and future needs.

South Portland leverages its assets by valuing the connection between its built environment and its natural environment. Healthful activities such as hiking, swimming, golfing, biking and other outdoor activities add value to the local economy and drive growth, create jobs and improve the quality of life for everyone in the community. It’s a win-win that South Portland has fully embraced as we work to build a better community.

Photo courtesy of City of South Portland
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse.

City of South Portland

829 Sawyer St., P.O. Box 9422, South Portland, ME 04116

Lea Duffy, Economic Development Director, lduffy@southportland.gov

(207) 347-4139

www.southportland.gov