Presque Isle wrapped up another exciting year of economic progress for 2021. The Presque Isle Department of Economic and Community Development would like to share an overview regarding the economic report which is meant to serve as a historical narrative of 2021 operation of the department and to serve as guidance in evaluating future planning efforts for the city.
In summary, the department’s staff of three full-time employees issued 33 certificates of occupancy, 152 building permits, 150 electrical permits, and 54 plumbing permits. In addition, the code officer followed through with 1,310 inspections for 2021. There was a total of $96,115.60 in permit fees collected by the code office for 2021 residential and commercial projects with a total economic impact of $11,324,971.
Our staff managed 44 meetings of the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Downtown Revitalization Committee, Downtown TIF Advisory Committee and Presque Isle Development Fund. The department also attended 13 ribbon-cutting celebrations with the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, in addition to participating in over 238 meetings with community organizations, local business owners and state leaders regarding economic activity in Presque Isle and Aroostook County.
We also co-hosted Northern Maine’s Electric Vehicle Symposium with the Northern Maine Development Commission, coordinated both the Downtown Summer Concert Series and The County’s first annual Fiddlehead Festival, besides attending two national conferences to attract new businesses and economic development project ideas to Presque Isle.
The city has seen an overall 3 percent increase in new business development compared to 2020. This data was collected through certificate of occupancy applications that are received by the code office on an annual basis.
The largest performers in new growth compared to 2020 occurred in the community organizations, restaurant, hospitality, insurance, industrial, gas station, place of assembly and service sectors. There was constant growth in office and personal care when comparing 2020 figures, while there were declines in marijuana, medical, residence and retail sectors.
Presque Isle’s hospitality industry is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the industry is showing promising signs when analyzing sales reported to the city in 2021.
Presque Isle hotels experienced a transition in new ownership and renovation plans for the Northeastland Hotel and Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center. The Sure Stay, which was renovated in recent years, also obtained new owners in 2021. In total, the hotels in Presque Isle experienced a decline in total gross sales of 9 percent when comparing sales data from 2020.
Presque Isle restaurants experienced an increase by 8 percent in gross food sales by the 13 restaurants that sell alcohol within the city. Similarly, gross liquor sales enjoyed an increase in sales by approximately 40 percent when compared to 2020. However, both sales have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
For the first year of implementation of the Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District, the economic and community development team received three applications for economic development projects within Presque Isle. In total, the projects are estimated to create 21 new jobs for Presque Isle, and are estimated to support the local economy with over $527,046 in new household income. There will also be a retention of 46 jobs from the applications received.
The projects are estimated to be funded with $4,921,704 private investment with $292,953 estimated in new personal property. Future annual reports will showcase the amount of city investment into these projects via Credit Enhancement Agreements and financing opportunities in 2022.
The department team would like to end our report by commending the service of George Howe, who retired after 17 years as code enforcement officer. His experience and personal character will be missed in City Hall.
If you would like to learn more about the report or to be involved with the economic development efforts, please contact us.
Galen Weibley is Presque Isle’s director of economic and community development. He can be reached at 760-2727 or via email at gweibley@presqueisleme.us.
