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V O L . X X I V N O. X V J U LY 2 3 , 2 0 1 8 20 D evelopers are working hard to keep up with booming demand for residential con- struction in Ellsworth. e Jackson Laboratory's new satellite facility, with 70 employees anticipated at full capacity, is expected to increase demand further in a tight residential market. "We have a real need for the full range of accommodations here," says City Manager David Cole. "We're always hearing, 'You can't fi nd an apartment in Ellsworth.' e inventory is very tight." Mike Wight, president of Broughman Builders in Ellsworth, witnessed fi rst- hand the urgency after a tenant vacated one of his rental units. "We put it in the paper and got six calls in one day," Wight says. Another four units on Spencer Street created immediate interest. "When I put that up for rent, we got 28 calls in 24 hours," he says. Regional gateway Ellsworth has seen considerable growth, says Cole. Ellsworth's population grew by 19.9% between 2000 and 2010, from 6,46 to 7,741, at a time when the state population grew by a comparatively modest 4.2%, according to U.S. Census numbers. Cole says it was about location. "Ellsworth is historically a regional center," says Cole. " is is where people come to buy goods and fi nd services. e city of Ellsworth's per-capita retail sales are higher than any city in the state, higher than Freeport and Kittery. at surprises people." It is a central area between Acadia National Park and Bangor. "Our location has historically been Ellsworth's strength," Cole continues. "It's a gateway to Acadia and the coast, it's a service hub, and it's connected to the Bangor metro area." And now, with Bar Harbor-based Jackson Lab expanding into Ellsworth, there is even more demand for housing. "I've been here for three years, and it became clear to me early on that housing needed to be a top priority, not only for basic community needs but for economic development," says Cole. "You can't have jobs and economic growth without people, and it's hard to draw people without housing." Ellsworth continues to wrestle with retail vacancies, including a former Rite Aid, various mall spaces and a 160,000- acre parcel that's part of a Wal-Mart and Home Depot development. Yet the city has found ways to regenerate — in part, by fostering tech companies. In 2016, the Ellsworth Economic Development Corp. redeveloped an existing site into the Union River Center for Innovation, a business incubator and co-working space. Today, it has four tech Housing in demand Ellsworth looks to a range of new housing B Y L A U R I E S C H R E I B E R F O C U S Ellsworth City Manager David Cole, with the city's director of economic development, Micki Sumpter, is working to create more housing for all income groups. I've been here for three years, and it became clear I've been here for three years, and it became clear I've been here for three years, and it became clear I've been here for three years, and it became clear I've been here for three years, and it became clear I've been here for three years, and it became clear I've been here for three years, and it became clear I've been here for three years, and it became clear I've been here for three years, and it became clear I've been here for three years, and it became clear I've been here for three years, and it became clear I've been here for three years, and it became clear I've been here for three years, and it became clear I've been here for three years, and it became clear to me early on that housing needed to be a top to me early on that housing needed to be a top to me early on that housing needed to be a top to me early on that housing needed to be a top to me early on that housing needed to be a top to me early on that housing needed to be a top to me early on that housing needed to be a top to me early on that housing needed to be a top to me early on that housing needed to be a top to me early on that housing needed to be a top to me early on that housing needed to be a top to me early on that housing needed to be a top to me early on that housing needed to be a top priority, not only for basic community needs but for economic development. You can't have jobs and economic growth without people, and it's hard to draw people without housing. — David Cole Ellsworth city manager P H O T O / F R E D F I E L D

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