Celebrating 2023: A Year of Community Growth in Downtown Ellsworth
As the year draws to a close, we at Heart of Ellsworth are thrilled to reflect on an eventful journey that has shaped Downtown Ellsworth into a vibrant, thriving hub of community engagement and cultural richness. In 2023, we embarked on numerous initiatives, from groundbreaking projects to lively events, each leaving an indelible mark on the heart of our town.
Downtown Grants
One of our flagship achievements this year was the Downtown Grants Program. This annual program provided $1,000 grants to eleven local businesses, empowering entrepreneurs and small business owners to innovate, expand, and contribute to the economic vitality of our downtown area. Through strategic investments, we nurtured growth and sustainability within our business community.
Manifesting Main Downtown Asset Mapping
The award-winning Manifesting Main Downtown Asset Mapping project was a testament to our commitment to understanding and celebrating our town's unique identity. This comprehensive report not only recognized the distinct assets of downtown but also highlighted opportunities for growth and development. Winning the Maine Downtown Center’s Project of the Year and Grow Smart Maine’s Smart Growth Award raised awareness for Ellsworth at a state-wide level and provides existing and new business owners clear action items to address community and business needs.
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Our Economic Vitality Committee participated in Maine Downtown Center’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Program. This was another milestone that helped us identify and prioritize three important downtown initiatives: wayfinding signage, business training, and enhancing the Franklin Street Parklet. These projects will serve downtown businesses, area entrepreneurs, youth, residents, and visitors. The program brought $60,000 to the downtown district!
Events
Community engagement remained a focal point throughout the year. Our Promotions Committee produced regular Coffee & Donuts events. We also produced events like Jane's Walk and PRIDE Fest which brought people together, celebrating diversity, inclusion, and the vibrant tapestry of our community. The Art of Ellsworth: Maine Craft Weekend, fostered an appreciation for local talent and creativity at more than a dozen events over the weekend.
Our community thrived with cultural celebrations like our three free Downtown Concerts in partnership with WERU. Hundreds of you joined us in the Franklin Street Parklet to listen to The Oshima Brothers under the stars this summer. We grooved with hundreds more of you at The Grand to the tunes of Down East Dead and Bondeko as temperatures cooled down.
Engaging the civic spirit, Meet the Candidates facilitated dialogue and connection between community members and aspiring leaders, empowering informed decision-making. All six candidates attended! More than 660 people watched the live stream! And nearly 100 people came in-person to The Grand to meet the candidates.
The Downeast Cider + Cheese Festival delighted taste buds and showcased local culinary delights, uniting food enthusiasts and producers in celebration. The festival brought more than 90 cider + cheese lovers together with delicious Maine-made fare from six cheesemakers and five cideries for two tasting events. The festival also included expert insights into apple DNA, and cider pressing and cheesemaking demonstrations. We can’t wait for next year’s Downeast Cider + Cheese Festival!
Food Systems
We also built a new Local Food Systems webpage to highlight programs offered by Ellsworth Farmers’ Market, Emmaus Homeless Shelter, Loaves & Fishes, and Ellsworth FarmDrop. The Ellsworth FarmDrop initiative reinforced our commitment to supporting local agriculture, connecting farmers directly with consumers, and promoting sustainable practices.
Business Benefits
To answer the question “What does Heart of Ellsworth do?”, we launched the Business Benefits web page and brochure summarizing seven of the benefits we bring to downtown businesses. Those include marketing opportunities, business programs, events, access to our extensive professional network, resources such as studies, advocacy, and custom offerings for unique business needs.
Main Street Beautification
A highlight of the year was our Design Committee’s return to Trees on Main Street, an initiative that not only beautified our town but also underscored our dedication to environmental stewardship and green spaces within the urban landscape. They also planted 6 bridge boxes and pulled unsightly weeds and trees. As the year drew to a close, they brought Holiday Lights downtown and transformed our street lamps and bridge into a magical wonderland, spreading warmth and cheer throughout the community.
Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design
We are participating in 2023 Citizens' Institute on Rural Design’s year-long learning cohort. As part of our commitment to thoughtful, innovative design our committee is exploring ways to enhance the Riverwalk North and create features that will attract visitors and residents to interact with the Union River, paving the way for a more inclusive and sustainable future for our downtown.
Conferences + Summits
In March, 1 staff member and 4 board members attended the Maine Street NOW conference in Boston where they met other members of Main Street communities from all over the country and learned best practices for downtown district revitalization. In October, we attended GrowSmart Maine’s 2023 Summit where we learned how to enhance Ellsworth’s existing assets making our community more livable and combat the national epidemic of loneliness. We also participated in learning opportunities with the Maine Downtown Center and other statewide entities throughout the year.
New & Upcoming News
Hiring Program Coordinator
Our Organization Committee successfully hired our first part-time staff person to accomplish the goals and projects identified in our Entrepreneurial Ecosystem project. This new position will support downtown businesses and projects to strengthen the downtown district.
Starting Main St America Application
In 2020, Heart of Ellsworth became an Affiliate Community of The Maine Downtown Center and Main St America Programs. Now, with the City of Ellsworth’s support, our community is embarking on a new designation to become the eleventh nationally accredited Main Street community in Maine. This accreditation unlocks resources, program funding, and marketing opportunities for Ellsworth.
As we bid adieu to 2023 . . .
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the community for their unwavering support, enthusiasm, and participation in making Downtown Ellsworth the vibrant, thriving heart of our town. Looking forward, we're excited to continue our journey of community-building, innovation, and inclusivity in the coming year, fueled by your ongoing support and dedication. Here's to a remarkable 2024 for Downtown Ellsworth!
Support our ongoing efforts by making a tax-deductible donation today. Be part of shaping the future of Downtown Ellsworth.