Now Seeking Downtown Building Inventory Project Coordinator
Downtown Ellsworth is full of possibility. Behind every storefront, second floor, historic facade, vacant space, and well-loved local business is part of a bigger story about how our downtown grows, adapts, and continues to serve the people who live, work, visit, and invest here.
Heart of Ellsworth is seeking proposals from qualified individuals or consultants for a part-time, project-based Contract Project Coordinator to support the Downtown Building Inventory & Development Readiness Project. The selected contractor will help collect, organize, and analyze information about downtown commercial buildings, creating a stronger foundation for future planning, investment, housing, and business development.
The contract is expected to begin in July and continue through December 2026.
Why this project matters
Ellsworth is at an important moment. With the recent designation of the Downtown Historic District, property owners have access to tools like historic tax credits, making rehabilitation and adaptive reuse more feasible. At the same time, the need for housing, especially workforce and year-round housing, continues to grow.
This project connects those opportunities by using data to better understand downtown buildings, current uses, vacancies, underutilized spaces, and potential paths for reinvestment. The goal is to turn that information into something useful for building owners, city leaders, developers, investors, business owners, residents, and community partners.
About the role
The Downtown Building Inventory Project Coordinator will support a comprehensive inventory and analysis of approximately 200 downtown commercial buildings within the Heart of Ellsworth downtown boundary. The project will use Main Street America’s Building Opportunities on Main Street, or BOOMS Tracker, a map-based tool designed to gather, organize, and visualize data about downtown buildings.
The selected contractor will work closely with Heart of Ellsworth staff to support property research, building owner outreach, data collection, reporting, and public-facing project materials. This will include research through the Hancock County Registry of Deeds and the City of Ellsworth Planning Department, coordination with project partners, and regular communication with Heart of Ellsworth staff and the Economic Vitality Committee.
What the project will produce
The selected contractor will help create a complete downtown building inventory dataset, cleaned and organized BOOMS Tracker system, a final report, a public-facing presentation, a stakeholder handout, and developer-ready property summaries.
These materials will support both immediate planning needs and long-term downtown revitalization goals, including housing development, business recruitment, historic preservation, grant writing, policy development, and future investment.
Who should apply
Ideal candidates may have experience in downtown revitalization, Main Street programs, community development, real estate, property research, data collection, historic preservation, redevelopment planning, stakeholder outreach, or related fields.
This role may be a good fit for someone who enjoys both details and big-picture thinking. The project requires careful research, organized data collection, clear communication, and curiosity about how downtown buildings can support a stronger, more vibrant Ellsworth.
The position is part-time and project-based, with an estimated commitment of approximately 12 hours per week. Compensation is expected to range from $25 to $30 per hour.
How to submit
Interested individuals or consultants should submit a brief proposal narrative, relevant experience and examples of similar work, a proposed approach and timeline, resume or qualifications, references, and hourly rate confirmation or proposed fee structure.
Full details and submission instructions are available at https://www.heartofellsworth.org/work-opportunities
Downtown Ellsworth’s future will be shaped by good information, strong partnerships, and people who care about what comes next. This project is one step toward understanding the opportunities already waiting in the buildings around us.