CARIBOU, Maine — Caribou saw significant growth this year, with new businesses, ongoing construction projects, road work and investments in the community.
For next year, City Manager Dennis Marker said he hopes to sustain and continue Caribou’s progress.
Marker said that in 2019 there was investment of private and public dollars for major capital projects, adding that while they may not be happening as quickly in Caribou as they are downstate, central Aroostook is seeing positive attention.
The city has a new Dunkin’ restaurant on Bennett Drive, a new dog park, as well as business relocations and remodels and expansions this year. The RSU 39 Caribou Community School project, a pre-K-eight facility on Bennett Drive, also made strides this year in terms of construction goals.
Marker said the city is glad to be a part of this growth and that Caribou “will work harder to sustain it in 2020.”
Contractors with Trombley Industries are seen here on July 10 working on the first phase of a project to repair High Street in Caribou. (Chris Bouchard | Aroostook Republican)
Two major projects are scheduled for completion next year: the Caribou Community School, which is scheduled to open in August, and a senior living facility located in the former Hilltop Elementary School building. A new park, located across the street from the Caribou Community School, will also be completed in 2020.
Work will resume on High Street, a high traffic road that was in dire need of repair, next year. At this point, the road surfaces are complete. Workers will apply a final overlay to certain portions of the sidewalks next spring.
Aside from these projects, Marker said that one of the major focuses for 2020 will be cleaning up blighted properties around the community.
“I believe the Council will start to focus more on cleaning up neighborhoods and building a cleaner and more inviting Caribou,” Marker said. “This past year we began meeting with business owners to understand their needs and what the city can do to help them grow. These efforts will continue along with revisiting our zoning and development regulations to simplify and streamline the process for businesses to expand.”
City officials will also take a closer look at municipal operations and asset management and search for ways of being better stewards of public dollars, Marker said.
While the loss of Sitel, a call center that employed roughly 100 people, was a blow to Caribou, the city has since purchased the Sweden Street building and councilors are considering several possibilities for the space.
Marker said that a final decision regarding the building will not be made until 2020.
“It will be considered as a candidate for a new police station, but lends itself to many other great options. Suggestions have been made for possible retail, business development space, and even additional housing in the downtown area,” he said.
