A new project will help create a strategic plan to support the city's future growth. Photo credit: Heart of Ellsworth
A new planning process will map future growth in downtown Ellsworth as the city anticipates a future with burgeoning businesses and revitalization efforts.
The Heart of Ellsworth and City of Ellsworth will launch an asset mapping project of the area in April with grant support from Maine Community Foundation’s Downeast Innovation Fund. The project will be led by HUB Collective of Portland, Oregon. The firm specializes in supporting communities near national parks and other recreation destinations and its creative development director, Jen (Young) Guibord, is a former Ellsworth resident.
“We are attempting to align current programs with local revitalization projects that will benefit a cohesive future for the downtown district,” said Cara Romano, executive director of Heart of Ellsworth. “With this foundation, Ellsworth’s entrepreneurship programming will advance beyond a short-term focus on immediate and COVID-related issues. This process will support a resilient business community that fosters stability and growth to meet its ever-evolving needs.”
HUB Collective will visit Ellsworth April 13-15 to establish downtown workshops titled Manifesting Maine. Their approach includes on-site visits with downtown businesses and community discussion groups.
“This will be a different sort of planning process, very hands-on and focused on capturing collective community knowledge that might not yet be well-documented,” Guilford said. “Our process allows for conversation and engagement with participants.”
Goals for the visit include capturing a common vision for downtown that serves everyone; identifying assets that make downtown great already; defining how those assets can be made stronger; and recognizing how deficits can become assets. The work will allow HUB and Ellsworth to plan change and develop measures to track progress.
The project will be completed later this year.
