HOULTON, Maine — A special session called “Community Heart and Soul — What Is It and How Can Houlton Benefit?” will be held on Tuesday, May 30, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Houlton Higher Education Center.
The public is invited and encouraged to attend to learn about this process and to share ideas. Refreshments will be served. The program will be facilitated by Patrick Wright, executive director of Gardiner Main Street and economic development coordinator for the city of Gardiner. Wright will speak about his experiences in Gardiner, their Main Street Program and how they used “Community Heart and Soul.” He will also engage attendees in discussion about our community and ways to move forward.
Wright has been the executive director of the Gardiner Main Street program since 2011. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia. Originally from Roanoke, Virginia, Wright spent several formative summers in Maine as a camper and counselor at Camp Agawam in Raymond which helped to form his love of community and his recognition of the unique quality of place in the State of Maine. After completing coursework at University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School for Public Service, Wright held positions in community planning and economic development at the State, Local and Regional levels prior to moving to the nonprofit sector.
Jon McLaughlin, Southern Aroostook Development Corporation (SADC) executive director, said, “While a downtown is often the heart and soul of a community, this is not just about our downtown, it’s about the entire town and region.”
“We want to bring the business community together with local residents to forge a plan for everyone,” added Jane Torres, executive director for the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce.
Community Heart and Soul helps find a way to empower all residents to shape the future of their communities and uphold the unique character of each place. It recognizes that people hold deep emotional connections to their town.
“We hope people in the community that feel this emotional connection to Houlton will come out on May 30 and join us for this conversation,” said Nancy Ketch, community development director.
The program is presented by the Downtown Committee, Houlton’s Community Development Department, Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce and the Southern Aroostook Development Corporation, with support from the Maine Downtown Center.
The event is free, but registration is requested. To register, contact Ketch at 521-5938 or comm.development@houlton-maine.com. Further information is available by contacting Ketch, Torres at 532-4216 or McLaughlin at 521-0157.
