This statement of economic development strategy for the Town of Greenville was prepared specifically for the Gateway Communities Workshop in Warren, Vermont. Information for this strategy is derived from actual projects started and completed by the Town of Greenville 1997-2002, and current economic development plans to be implemented between 2003 and 2007. The attached appendix includes more detailed information on these initiatives referenced. –John Simko, Greenville Town Manager

The Town of Greenville is a gateway community to the North Maine Woods. With a year-round population of 1,623, Greenville is small as a community even for rural Piscataquis County standards. But our location at the base of Moosehead Lake and several million acres of privately-owned, publicly-accessed productive forestland allows for a tremendous seasonal camp population, as well as seasonal visitor population. Local estimates are that our seasonal populations (summer and winter) swell to roughly 6,000 and 4,000 respectfully.

The geography of the Moosehead Lake region is such that there is no realistic expectation for urban growth around the lake outside of Greenville. Infrastructure and year-round population are both centered around Greenville, and do not reasonably justify expansion into areas north of us. This is in great part why the State Planning Office for the State of Maine characterizes Greenville as a “primary service center”. We continuously provide services to a population which exceeds the boundary of our municipality.

Greenville has many economic development “tools” in its “toolbox”. Some of its competitive attributes include a 60+ acre municipal industrial park, an adjacent 15MW biomass-driven steam power plant, an active east-west rail line, and a dual-runway general aviation airport. Greenville is also home to the elementary and high schools of Maine School Union #60, a small but proud campus of 20+ acres and a student population of roughly 314 students. Greenville is home to Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home, a critical care hospital and nursing facility which is also Greenville's largest employer. Tourist information is given out at the Visitor's Center, located on Indian Hill in Greenville, and run by the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce. Of tourist and recreational interest is Greenville's Junction Wharf, a 10-acre peninsula which juts into the West Cove of Moosehead Lake, offering southern Moosehead's only public boat launch, common green space, picnic tables and canopies, a small bathhouse, swimming beach, and adjacent playground. In East Cove, the restored steamship Katahdin rests beside the Moosehead Marine Museum. The “Kate” goes out every day of the summer, bringing upwards of 225 passengers at a time up the lake for sight-seeing tours. This summer's ridership was a record year, taking over 7,200 passengers up and down the lake on the restored steamship. Our largest event continues to be the nearly 30-year-old International Seaplane Fly-In, which this year brought nearly 7,000 people to Town for the three-day event. Over 500 planes were parked at our airport, and at least as many moored on the shores of Moosehead Lake. Add to this over a dozen sit-down restaurants and scores of retail stores and shops, and you have the bustling community of Greenville, Maine.

In the 1980s, the Town of Greenville and the State of Maine jointly conducted an economic study of the municipality and its economic potential. At this point, two large wood products manufacturers in Greenville had recently closed their doors, eliminating nearly 100 jobs. Tourism was not as prominent as it is today. The question on everyone's mind was: should Greenville be working toward re-developing its forest products businesses, or should it embrace tourism? The answer given by the study was that Greenville needs BOTH economic aspects to survive and prosper. To this day, economists show that a diverse economic base - in our case, a blending of tourism and industrial jobs and resources – is the only recipe for a strong local economy which can weather downturns in the regional, state, national, and global economies. It is this diverse economic base for which the Town of Greenville continues to work towards to this day.

From 1997 to 2002, the Town of Greenville has entered into a variety of Economic Development projects and initiatives to try to grow our local economy and to better serve the needs of the visiting tourists. There are also a list of projects underway currently in Greenville to accomplish the same. Finally, there are plans – some well-defined, others quite preliminary – to develop our infrastructure necessary for economic develop within the next five years. Listed below are three sets of projects listed chronologically. A brief description of the event or the project is provided for reference.

Throughout this period, natural resources programs of interest are accomplished by members of the NREC Board of Trustees, many of whom also work on the annual Forest Heritage Days. Held in August, Forest Heritage Days includes a professional “Game of Logging”, as well as exhibitions and displays explaining more about the productive forest around us. In 1997, a bus tour was developed as part of this event, literally bringing dozens of people into the working forest to observe actual cutting practices and regeneration efforts.

By 1997, the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce had identified the need to expand the summer season to maximize the impact of tourism. The concept of a late-spring, early summer series of events emerged. The “moose” was identified as the common theme for the proposed events, which range from sight-seeing tours to lectures by officials from the State of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife to a mountain bike race and a rowing regatta. This event continues to this day, and takes up the better part of May and June. The Town annually contributes $10,000 to the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce for all of their activities, including this one.

Recognizing the need for good, consistent snowmobile trails throughout the region and through Greenville, the Town became involved in the snowmobile trail grooming program. Investing $150,000 in two new Piston-Bully Snowmobile Trail Groomers, the Town paid back the loan from funds received each year in donations from businesses and public, as well as from reimbursement from the State of Maine Department of Conservation from their snowmobile trail grant program. Trails have been consistently better since this investment and involvement occurred. In 2001-2002, the Town further invested in hiring two trail groomer operators and coordinators of volunteers for the groomers, to ease the burden on the volunteers running the program.

The Town of Greenville, working with Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC) and the Mine Department of Economic and Community Development, devised a strategic revitalization plan for the Downtown Greenville area. With the help of a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the Town successfully gave its downtown area a “face-lift”, but also developed some important pieces of infrastructure. Through this grant, as well as Town funds and private donations, two downtown parking lots were established; Thoreau Park was revitalized; shorefront was acquired and a wooden Boardwalk established; a large wooden gazebo was erected with the help of the local Masonic Lodge; business store fronts were revitalized; welcome signs were erected as you enter Town. This project concluded in 2000.

Recognizing the need to grow and develop our economy, community leaders from all parts of Piscataquis County worked with our regional planning group (EMDC) to devise the structure for the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council (PCEDC). Funding from Piscataquis County was secured ($40,000 per year for three years to start). A staff person was hired to assist businesses, market the area, develop infrastructure, and assist in municipal grant writing. Since 1998, the PCEDC has helped to bring almost 100 new jobs to Piscataquis County, and has leveraged at least $2 million in public and private funds as investment within the County. Greenville's Town Manager at the time played a lead role in the development of this organization. The previous Manager was Vice-President of the organization upon his departure from the area in 2000. The current Manager currently serves as President of the organization.

After securing the services of a professional consultant, the Comprehensive Planning Committee completed its plan in 1999. It was found to be consistent with the Growth Management Act of 1991 by the State Planning Office. At Town Meeting, the Comprehensive Plan was adopted by the Townspeople. In 2001, the ideas within the plan were implemented as changes to the land se ordinances. These changes were approved by the Townspeople at a special Town Meeting in 2001. The Town f Greenville is the only municipality in Piscataquis County to have completed all of these steps which are required by law to be completed by 2003.

A novelty to the State of Maine, let alone Greenville, a group of auto racing enthusiasts organized a group known as the West Cove Ice Racing Association and began racing on a quarter-mile track on the ice of Moosehead Lake in Greenville Junction. Their numbers of racers and numbers of spectators has grown over the past three years, averaging 3-5 races per Sunday, 10-12 cars per race, and probably 150-300 spectators per race.

NASCAR driver and local hero Ricky Craven owns property in Greenville, and wanted to give something back to our community. He developed his snowmobile ride for charity as a means to have snowmobilers come to Greenville, ride a given loop course, pay a registration fee for the ride, develop corporate sponsors, and give the money raised to national children's charities. Last year, Ricky raised over $80,000 in his one-day event. To honor our community further, he donated $15,000 of the proceeds to the local hospital. Over 500 snowmobilers come up each winter for this annual ride. This year, the Chamber of Commerce, the Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club, and the West Cove ice Racing Association are trying to challenge Ricky and some of his fellow NASCAR drivers to a race on the ice the second day of his big weekend. We'll see how NASCAR does on Moosehead Ice…

In an effort to reach out beyond the bounds of Greenville, the Town's Economic Development Committee (which had met for years previous) transformed into the Moosehead Development Council, open to all interested communities and community members around Moosehead Lake.

There has long been discussion regarding the formation of a National Park in the North Maine Woods. Unfortunately, most of that discussion has occurred outside the region to be most affected by the creation of such a federal facility. In 2000, officials from RESTORE came and spoke briefly at Greenville's Economic Development Committee meeting, and later at a large, public forum set up by the Town of Greenville. Over 300 people came to the Greenville High School Auditorium August 31, 2000 to hear the RESTORE proposal. The Executive Director and the Maine Director were given all of the time they wanted to give a detailed explanation f the proposal and why it would be good for our region. A moderator from EMDC allowed questions from the floor. Several hours later, the consensus in the room was that this proposal would not be in the best interests of Greenville or the surrounding area. Some of the main objections include: eradication of productive timber harvesting over a 3.2 million acre region; loss of snowmobiling and motorized recreation over most of the same area; erosion of property tax base even while expecting more services for more people; loss of private property. The following month saw he Town of Greenville's Board of Selectmen, the Piscataquis County Commissioners, and several other municipal and county boards of elected officials adopt resolutions opposing the creation of a Northern Maine National Park. Greenville still wants and needs tourism even “eco-tourism”. The Town simply could not make such tourism work if confined by a neighboring National Park.

Greatly in response to the aforementioned meeting with RESTORE, a group of leaders from the gateway communities of Greenville, Millinocket, and Jackman formed the Maine Woods Coalition. This public non-profit organization is devoted to perpetuating the tradition of private land ownership, traditional use of the Maine Woods, resistance to creation of a National Park, and evaluation of all major land use policies which affect the Maine Woods to determine their relative benefit or hard to the residents and property owners of a four county region in Maine (Somerset, Piscataquis, Penobscot and Aroostook). The group has developed some clout, and has been a leader in better defining the effects of large-scale conservation easements in the Maine Woods. Legislators and members of the Congressional Delegation have at times sought us out for our opinion. To be a voting member, you must be a property owner or resident of the aforementioned four-county area. Elected officials seem to pay us greater credence due to this self-imposed rule. Our organization favors a strong regional economy and a continued diverse makeup of economic “engines” for the region, utilizing both traditional forest products manufacturing and also motorized and non-motorized recreational tourism.

In this year, the Town of Greenville took a major interest in this celebration, typically run by the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce. By partnering with the Chamber, the 2001 and 2002 celebrations were superior many if not all previous years. A much larger parade was established, with judges and awards given for the best featured entries. More events were held for children and adults at the Junction Wharf. Fireworks continue to be fired off from a barge in West Cove of Moosehead Lake. Added events this year included a bike ride for Charity, hosted by the Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home, and a “3-on-3” basketball tournament hosted by the Town's Recreation Committee. The Fourth of July has become Greenville's “Town Celebration” and the Town is glad for it.

In an effort to bring more people into the Downtown area, and to bring our community closer together, the Town of Greenville initiated, with the help of the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce and a non-profit group called North Country Healthy Communities, a free summer concert series in the gazebo. This nine-week season was accomplished with a $1,000 donation from the Town of Greenville and roughly $1,500 raised from the business community and from patron's donations at the concerts. The series ran for 5 weeks every Friday night at 7:00 PM at the Gazebo. There is sufficient lawn space for patrons to sit and listen to the concerts, which brought folk and country singers, as well as the alumni band with its horns and strings. It proved rapidly to be a gigantic success, averaging over 200 people per concert. The following year, the series expanded to 9 weeks, a grant for the series was secured by North Country Healthy Communities, and the Town did not fund any of the costs. The series grew in patronage as well, one concert having well over 450 people in attendance. The Town and its partners in this project intend to keep the concert series going annually.

In an attempt to revitalize the “other half” of Greenville, the Town of Greenville, the Piscataquis County Commissioners, the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, and the Eastern Maine Development Corporation set out to devise a plan to revitalize this area, using the successful downtown revitalization project of 1997 as a template. Through a $10,000 CDBG planning grant, various aspects were considered, including the following: reconstruction of the Junction Wharf; development of an alternate route for bicyclists and pedestrians crossing under a railroad trestle; improved sidewalks and paved shoulders for pedestrians and bicyclists; off-site parking for the Junction Wharf and a new Welcome Sign for Southbound traffic on Route 15. This plan was completed by spring of 2002, and is now being implemented bit by bit through identified grant sources through the efforts of the Town of Greenville and the Piscataquis County Commission.

An excursion rail company out of Houston, Texas, Acadian Railway came to us in 2000, and began their excursions in 2001. Although this first season's ridership was down (roughly 2,500 visitors this first season), they expect to grow their numbers to 7,500 to 10,000 within the next five to seven years. They offer two trains per week, running from Montreal through Greenville to St. John, New Brunswick. Greenville represents their only Maine stopover. Acadian Railway has purchased and renovated a restaurant, renovated lodging at the nearby ski resort, has purchased shuttle buses, and has developed a downtown ticket office, all in the course of the first year. With this nearly $1 million investment in local infrastructure, we know they will be here a while.

The following list of projects are underway at this time. Although some projects have been listed for 2002, they found their roots in previous years. These projects are currently in development or early implementation.

Moose-on-the-Run 5K Road Race and 1K Fun Run: This first-annual event occurred October 13, 2002 and was a tremendous success. With 35 runners expected, 74 registered and ran the big race. This was accomplished through a partnership of the Town of Greenville, the Greenville Schools, the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce, C.A. Dean Hospital, and many generous business sponsors.

Maine Lumber LLC: A partnership of Canadian and Maine investors have formed a company called Maine Lumber LLC and are planning to develop a new sawmill in the Greenville Industrial Park which will co-generate sawdust fuel, steam heat, and electrical power from the Greenville Steam Plant. Maine Lumber, which will employ 50 people, is expected to be up and running by the summer of 2003. The mill will bring over $10 million in new, taxable value to the Town of Greenville.

In-Town Trails Committee: A group of concerned citizens has formed a committee to look into the design and implementation of multi-use trails throughout downtown Greenville.

“Greenville at the Crossroads” Population Study and Suggested Action Plan: A study I completed in early 2002 as I developed the current municipal budget has become the action plan for the Moosehead Development Council, the Town of Greenville, and the Greenville Schools. The plan shows our rapidly declining student enrollment, due mostly to a declining population in certain demographic sectors. The goal is to increase the current student population by at least 100 students from today's total over a ten year period. Single family housing for purchase or for rent is also set for increases, as are new jobs. Many of the suggestions I generated in the study are now being considered by others in our community.

Wood Composites Incubator Center: Through a series of grants and other funding mechanisms, the Town of Greenville and the PCEDC is working toward the 2003 construction of a 35,000 sq. ft. facility to house a wood composites business incubator. Borrowing from the world-class technology in use at the University of Maine at Orono's Advanced Wood Structures laboratory, the Greenville Wood Composites Incubator would be “factory space for rent” for interested entrepreneurs. Greenville is working with a prospective tenant at this time who, when he perfects his product, plans to build a large facility within the Greenville industrial to co-generate with Greenville Steam Company. The size of the ultimate facility will be on a par with Maine Lumber LLC's plans.

Airport Runway Reconstruction in 2004 ($2 million investment)
Airport Arrivals Building expected 2003
Airport Hangar Development expected to be maximized by 2007
Water and Sewer Line Extensions into the Industrial Park by 2004
Reconstruct Junction Wharf using wood composite materials by 2005
Reconstruct Railroad Depot by 2005
Redevelop current railroad siding for passenger use by 2004
Create off-site parking at old railroad turntable by 2007
Create in-town trail system by 2007
Expand current Industrial Park through purchase & annexation by 2005
Expand affordable, middle-income housing for professionals by 2004
Advertise for new families – telecommuters included by 2007
Increase total population, student population by 2012
Develop outdoor sports center at high school by 2007
Develop Natural Resources Education Center and Visitor's Center by 2007

John Simko
Town Manager, Greenville
President, Piscataquis County Economic Development Council
Chairman, Steering Committee – Maine Woods Coalition