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Lead Entity: Empower Lewiston 

Demographics

State: Maine
Counties: Androscoggin (201, 204)
Community Population: 6,013
Net area: 0.9 square miles
Poverty Rate: 37%
Map: Local

Background

• Round I Champion Community
• Received a waiver for the "rural" criteria

Community Overview 

Empower Lewiston is still struggling through economic adjustments initiated by the loss of the textile and shoe industries. Like many high population areas in rural states, the city is built around a series of mills constructed along a river to take advantage of hydropower. As the manufacturing industries moved out of the country, the mills were left idle, sending the community into decline and high poverty. Repeated efforts to capitalize on the strengths of the community and renovate the business district, create new jobs, and build an attractive waterfront area have met limited success. Unfortunately, these efforts were generally driven by what ever Federal programs were available to fund such improvements, and did not necessarily enjoy strong community support. The community is optimistic that the grassroots Enterprise Community efforts will produce long-lasting improvements. 

Strategic Plan Highlights 

With the implementation of the strategic plan, the community strives to balance economic and community development. Highlights include:

• Lifelong Learning, Training & Employment—create better access to health care and information, continue to eliminate socioeconomic barriers to education and employment, work with private industry to create jobs and continue to provide support for families;
• Housing/Neighborhood Improvement & Empowerment—creation of safe, affordable, homeownership opportunities and rehabilitation strategies for low-income residents, creation of a comprehensive Lead-Based Paint Program to reduce the number cases of children with elevated blood lead levels in children and the creation of a "furniture bank" to provide furnishings for low-income families in building and maintaining quality homes;
• Culture, Recreation & Natural Resources—creation of a "Cultural Learning Center", establishment of three safe houses for children, establishment of a lifelong learning center and implementation of "Downtown Riverfront Bicycle and Pedestrian System";
• Downtown Revitalization—creation of jobs and new businesses, infrastructure improvement, beautification of area and the development of a new district court;
• Community Participation—creation of a community cable station to keep residents active in the implementation process of the strategic plan and the establishment of service learning projects for more community involvment.

Partnerships 

In addition to state and local government, there are 29 well-established and diverse local nonprofits ranging from the YMCA, multi-cultural arts groups, and some strong social service non-profits. All have a presence in the census tracts; many are state or nationally recognized groups with strong reputations. 

Leveraging 

Empower Lewiston has identified a range of organizations at the federal, state, and local level where it intends to seek potential funding and additional in-kind and technical assistance. 

Community Involvement 

Outreach to residents consisted of surveys, press releases, newspaper articles and public meetings. Over 1,200 surveys were completed and 2,000 residents attended meetings during a five-month period.

Contact:	Barbara Rankins, Board President
Address:	95 Park Street, Suite 412
	Lewiston, Maine 04240-7282
Telephone:	(207) 777-5144
Fax:	(207) 786-4412
Email:	empowerlewiston@economicgrowth.org
Website:	www.ci.lewiston.me.us

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