From attending the Town Council meetings, it is clear the issue of economic development is one of great importance to the town, but one that continues to be at a stalemate.
I would like to congratulate the new Council Chairman on his appointment and to commend his efforts to receive input on this subject from the Council in order to begin working towards a plan of action.
I am hoping that the Council Chairman and the Town Council will be receptive to citizen input on this issue and have compiled information about economic development efforts in towns around the state of Maine and from a survey of citizens done by Millinocket Community Action Committee (MCAC).
In researching, I found that communities using a combination of Town Officials, Citizens and an Economic Development Director all working together seem to be seeing the most positive growth for their efforts.
A major factor that stands out in many towns across the state is that citizen participation and inclusion in economic development efforts is one of the basic starting points. Citizens need to have a voice in their town's destiny in order to preserve and advance the community. We all want to see the town revive, but many of us want to retain the things about Millinocket that we have come to treasure.
Towns that revitalize with citizens heavily involved are the towns that later prove to have strong community pride and unity. These are things that attract other businesses and people to a community. In order to have successful revitalization, there needs to be a merging of social and economic goals. This is where citizen input is valuable and necessary. It is the citizens of a town that need to determine what they want to see evolve in their town for economic development. Successful economic development accommodates the town and the lifestyle of the residents and does not require changing an entire town and its population to accommodate development.
Some towns have found it helpful to survey all their listed taxpayers as to the direction they wanted to go with economic development. For them, this appeared to inspire more citizen involvement by allowing the citizens to weigh in on how their town would develop. MCAC was unable to reach every taxpayer in Millinocket with our survey by mailing, due to the cost involved, but would like very much to see something like this done by the town.
Once the town is able to reach a consensus on what our priorities are, town officials are the best informed as to what the town has for resources to determine the suitable process for reaching that goal. With citizens, town officials, and an Economic Development Director also involved, the town would be able to provide the tools and assistance needed for citizens looking to start or expand a business or for businesses looking to locate here.
Success is happening for towns that are able to coordinate local efforts and take collaborative actions to address specific priorities. With focused local efforts aimed at solutions that can be agreed upon, economic development and revitalization can happen here. We need to end the stalemate, stop talking in circles and take action.
For this reason, I believe that an Economic Development Director working for the Town of Millinocket is an investment in the community that is necessary for the survival of the town and would be money well spent.
The majority of those responding to MCAC's survey stated that they want to see the town hire an Economic Development Director that works for this town only, but can also be a liaison with area towns when needed. People responding believed we need to work together, but also need our own representative who will look after our needs first and foremost.
With a team such as this, the town could then organize to attract, develop and create new employment opportunities and to increase the tax base. This could then lead to a revival of the economy in our town and the level of services it can provide to the residents. All of these elements, in turn, will bring improvements to the town, more businesses wishing to locate here and people interested in becoming part of this community.
I believe we need to pursue economic development starting with small and local efforts in order to build a base from which to grow. Rather than looking to the outside, maybe we need to find our strength from within the town and begin this effort with those still here. This area has many aspiring entrepreneurs who, with the right assistance, could begin this growth with numerous micro-businesses. Each of these micro-businesses could employ a dozen or so people.
We need to invest in our community and the citizens who live here rather than continuing to lose funds on ventures initiated from outside as we have been doing.
Industrial businesses are needed, as is tourism, but we must first rebuild the town for those who live here and attract others interested in investing in this community rather than those looking to see what they can take from the community.
Micro-businesses could offer not only jobs, but also goods and services for the local people who can then shop locally and strengthen our local economy and the community.
Developing a group or program that could support local aspiring entrepreneurs in creating businesses that are needed in the community could also provide opportunities for networking these businesses to further strengthen them and the community. This would also offer an opportunity for the business community to mold itself to the needs of the residents while also offering goods and services to visitors. Numerous micro-businesses, each selling products based on their own interests and the needs of local customers usually ensures a broader range of product choice as well as competitive prices. Supporting local entrepreneurs and local businesses also helps to retain a larger percentage of revenue within the community.
I had the opportunity to take part in the Incubators Without Walls program offered through Penquis Cap that I found to be very helpful as far as it went. With the training and assistance from a similar program combined with the follow up of an Economic Development Director for the town, I believe we would see more local entrepreneurs starting new businesses and existing businesses growing. We also have many retired business owners who we could possibly enlist to volunteer as mentors for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Land is the major roadblock to growth for the town. Annexation has been opposed in the past, but without more available land, the town will not be able to develop and grow. Understanding that annexing land does not change the ownership, it may persuade owners to more seriously consider selling some acreage to the town rather than pay higher taxes.
Business parks with infrastructure in place look to be the number one draw for most economic development in towns because businesses looking for potential sites can save effort, time and money with opportunities that offer utilities already available and pre-permitted sites. Sites such as this show that a town is invested in economic development, business friendly, and has planning in place for long-term development strategy. If Millinocket is going to enhance and diversify our tax base, we need to show businesses that we are ready to welcome them into our community by committing ourselves to developing a business park in our town that will attract and allow new or expanding businesses to open here.
Millinocket needs to market itself. We have a lot to offer but, have failed to successfully market this town. We have, with the recent addition of the new town pool, an exceptional Recreation Complex, an airport, and many opportunities for retail businesses to open shop, just to name a few.
Councilor Busque's suggestion to tape a marketing piece on the town to then air on tv is something that seems to be working for other towns.
As they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words".
Many of the businesses in town do not have the resources to pay for advertising. A marketing promo that could highlight each businesses and inform the public about them, their goods and services could be very beneficial to not only the businesses, but the town economy as a whole.
Possibly an arrangement could be made with one of the television stations to purchase airing for the promo with a rotation schedule giving each business an opportunity at airtime.
KAT has the equipment and the capabilities to produce a promo, which could save considerable costs. The current Chairman of the Board at KAT-TV, has the talent and ability to film and produce a project such as this and is also the person contracted to do the town's website, which gives him additional insight on the subject. Perhaps the Town Council could consider approaching him to see if he is interested and to contract his services on behalf of the town and its existing businesses.
We need to support our existing businesses as a town, and marketing is something that most cannot financially even consider at this point. Joining the town and the businesses in an effort to market them could be a positive and successful project for all.
I believe we need to build on what we now have and begin our revitalization and growth on a local level. Investing in our existing local businesses to assist them is an investment in the town.
Downtown revitalization is something that is drastically needed in Millinocket. This was a huge concern to most residents that replied to MCAC‘s survey.
Millinocket needs to have an active revitalization plan for our downtown area that will bring more businesses and a variety of businesses. We have some attractive areas in our downtown and some areas that are so neglected that they detract from the entire area. With a downtown revitalization plan, we could then apply for a state grant to assist us.
Towns that have successfully revitalized their downtown areas have a more cohesive and attractive appearance with all of the businesses along the street having storefronts that compliment each other. The appearance of a town's downtown sets the tone for economic development in the entire town.
It also is an indicator of how residents feel about their town.
Another strong point I have noticed with successful downtown revitalization is that when there are a variety of businesses, many downtown areas have business and activities that give life to the downtown day and evening rather than everything closing down at 5:00 pm.
Having activities or open businesses besides the bars in the downtown area evenings was mentioned in most of the surveys that MCAC received from residents.
Many citizens have voiced support for the Millinocket Historical Society to have a permanent and exclusive home for the town museum. The building most often mentioned as an excellent home for the museum is the former bank beside the Municipal Building. This building is currently for lease, but with the issues that could arise for the Police Department with access to use of the driveway behind the bank, perhaps the Town Council could see fit to try to negotiate purchase of this building for the museum and to ensure continued access for the Police Department to that driveway.
Our town needs and deserves a proper home for its historic items. I believe acquiring this building for such purpose would be a very good beginning to downtown revitalization and would serve to inspire the community.
All those responding would like to see more businesses to shop at - in town - rather than having to travel. Types of businesses mentioned that people would like to see here are: clothing stores, shoe stores, department stores, a movie theatre, veterinary services, greenhouse, K Mart/Sears, Target, Remy's, and more options for fast food. Other businesses that people would like to see locate here were an animal park, water slides, an amusement type family-oriented park, multi-purpose indoor recreational center and a nature walk area.
The majority of respondents also expressed an interest in seeing Peddlers' Hill developed.
Most citizens responding to the survey expressed interest in festivals for the town as well. Since we have four distinct seasons, there are numerous opportunities for festivals.
When all is said and done, the things that have the most affect on successful economic development, is involvement and inclusion of citizens because that is what makes a town.
Without a collaborative and concerted effort from the citizens, town officials, and organizations, economic development will not happen for Millinocket.
Let's start local and save our town.
