Last month, President and CEO Erin Barnes, Chief Innovation Officer Matt Wagner, and Vice President of Coordinating Programs Kathy La Plante visited Biddeford and Saco, Maine, for the Maine Downtown Conference. The conference theme was ​“Revitalization in Action,” focusing on actionable solutions to the challenges facing downtowns today. The conference’s location in Biddeford (a 2022 Great American Main Street Award winner) and Saco highlighted the significant impact of the Main Street Approach in the state.

“Maine has come so far so quickly over the last few years, becoming one of the leading areas in the country for rural entrepreneurial ecosystem building and positioning the coordinating program as a critical resource for place-based economic development across the state,” said Matt Wagner.

This conference marked the 25^th anniversary of the Maine Downtown Center. Housed within the Maine Development Foundation, this Coordinating Program has many notable achievements, including its entrepreneurial ecosystem pilot and cultural and historic preservation work. ​“Anne Ball and her team have worked tirelessly to make the Main Street program in Maine stronger than ever,” said Kathy La Plante. ​“I was the New Hampshire coordinator when the Maine program started, and I’ve known every Maine Coordinator since then. Each should celebrate their critical role in helping communities with their Main Street programs.”

In honor of their 25^th anniversary, the Maine Downtown Center created this video sharing their growth and accomplishments.