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V O L . X X I V N O. X X I V O C T O B E R 1 5 , 2 0 1 8 18 M I D C O A S T & D OW N E A S T M A I N E F O C U S M aine's Midcoast is much more than a summer tourist destination as evi- denced by continued businesses openings in downtown Rockland, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens' $50-million drive to become a year- round draw in Boothbay and a $3 million waterfront revitalization program at the Darling Marine Center in Walpole, part of a broader 10-year strategic plan. Here's a roundup of significant developments. Rockland's downtown business boom Anchored by the Farnsworth Art Museum and the Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockland's arts district is also a hub of new business activ- ity with more than a dozen recent openings and more to come. Main Street newcomers include North Beacon Oyster, hot yoga and juice bar venue Earth Flow + Fire, Sea Bags, Maine Mead Works and at least two galleries — Art Space and Stanhope & Spencer — that add to Rockland's arts-hub cachet. ey will be soon be joined by Liberator Brewing Co. at 218 S. Main St. "I always introduce myself as being from the arts and dining mecca of Maine," says Gordon Page, executive director of Rockland Main Street Inc., a nonprofit that promotes downtown economic vitality. "We say that tongue in cheek, but there's so much going on in Rockland — people want to be there, spend time there and ultimately they want to spend money there." Why so much interest now? Page chalks it up to constant successful churn in any downtown, like business owners retiring or moving on for family reasons — though in Rockland as soon as a Main Street site becomes available, there's a hearty appetite from eager tenants. He also admits there are at least a couple of smaller, out-of-the-way spaces that have been empty for a while and that affordable housing remains a challenge. Doug Ericskon of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate /e Masiello Group says he expects the trend to continue as long as rents stay close to $10 to $15 a square foot. "ey're trending up a little bit but not going up in great guns," he says. Rockland's cultural rise has been fairly recent, sparked by the renovation of the Farnsworth and the the Center for Maine Contemporary Art's move from Rockport in 2016 into a sleek new home designed by internationally acclaimed architect Toshiko Mori. Both received financing from Coastal Enterprises Inc., which has provided loans to 34 businesses from Bath to Belfast that have created a total of 100 jobs in a variety of sectors. "It's great to see that the region is diversifying and bringing dollars in from outside the region through tourism and sales of food outside the region," says Betsy Biemann, CEO of CEI, which is based in Brunswick. Back in Rockland, CMCA executive director Suzette McAvoy says she's noticed more off-season visitors "and a growing sense that it's more of a year- round economy we're trying to build." It's not just retailers that are ramping up, but also employers like Dream Local Digital, a marketing agency founded by Shannon Kinney in 2009. It's up to 39 employees and seeking to fill positions in several areas. "In terms of our recruiting efforts, it is helpful for us to see Rockland grow- ing," says Kinney. "So many talented people are working to create community and resources for businesses, and it is facilitating growth." P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F C M C A P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y S E A B A G S Midcoast roundup Development projects taking shape B y r e n e e c o r d e S C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2 0 » It's great to see that the region is diversifying and bringing dollars in from outside the region through tourism and sales of food outside the region. — Betsy Biemann Coastal Enterprises Inc. The Center for Maine Contemporary Art, which opened in Rockland in 2016, has helped propel other arts-related investment. Sea Bags, which opened a store in Rockland this year, is one of several retailers that have opened in the downtown.

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