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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 20 Botanical Gardens' $50M metamorphosis After resolving a legal dispute with the town of Boothbay and property owners over its expansion plans, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is proceeding with a $50 million revamp to become a year-round destination. "It's a big undertaking — big for Maine — but I think people really see the value beyond the educational mission that we have and the economic value of something like this," says President and CEO William Cullina. e expansion is expected to bring in up to 300,000 visitors a year, result- ing in a projected annual economic impact of $100 million. e metamorphosis will happen in phases, the most recent of which were a new visitor center that opened in mid-May and native butterfly house that opened June 1. ose will be followed by construction of a plant nursery and horticultural research center in 2019, along with an old homestead to be turned into an edu- cational center with a focus on food and food security; a glass conservatory and gardens in 2021; and expansion of the educational campus in 2022-23 to include a new youth education building and a Center for Professional Horticulture. Under a conservative timetable, Cullina expects the venue to be open year- round by 2021 or 2022. Behind the scenes, Cullina says he sees great potential in growing sustain- able, patented plants for wholesale distribution and ready for commercial launch in about 10 years. "I feel like we've barely tapped the potential." On the financing side, Cullina says about half the $50 million has been raised so far for the project, mainly from individuals and foundations, and that "we have a great roadmap for completing it." But he said the final timeline also depends on funding and permitting. e initiative comes more than decade after the gardens opened in June 2007, thanks to a group of residents who formed a grassroots organization. Originally meant to accommodate 40,000 visitors a year, the now 295- acre site welcomed more than 190,000 last year and expects to crack 200,000 in 2018. e staff has also grown, from 10 full-timers and 12 part-time and » C O N T I N U E D F RO M PA G E 1 8 F O C U S PR ES ENTI NG S PONS OR R EGI ONAL S PONS OR S Join us at our sixth and final stop in the 2018 On the Road with Mainebiz event series at The Tarratine in Bangor. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar while networking with business executives in the area. Network with Mainebiz and Area Business Executives on October 18 AT T E N DA N C E I S FREE B U T S PAC E I S LIMITED! Please be sure to register ahead at www.mainebiz.biz/OTRBangor 5:00–7:00pm | The Tarratine, 81 Park Street, Bangor FOLLOW US @MBEVENTS #OTRBangor18 National Bank BANGOR R E N D E R I N G / C O U R T E S Y C O A S TA L M A I N E BO TA N I C A L G A R D E N S Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is undergoing a multi-year upgrade, investing $50 milllion. The rendering shows a conservatory to be built in 2021.

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