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V O L . X X V N O. X X I V O C T O B E R 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 16 M I D C O A S T & D OW N E A S T F O C U S Since then, improvement projects have ranged from sewer upgrades to airport investments, down- town revitalization and flood mitigation plans and a Join Us on Main Street campaign with busi- nesses and organizations. A new revitalization Tax Increment Financing district for the downtown- riverfront area seeks to drive development. "We keep looking for ways to improve, seeing how we can work with businesses to make them realize there are opportunities for investment," says Machias Town Manager Christina errien. She cites Machias Savings as an example. "ey're adding jobs every year. at's extremely helpful in keeping some of the youth here when they get out of college: ey've got to have a place to work." Machias has a lot going on, she adds. "It's a beautiful area and land prices are still extremely affordable compared with most of the East Coast," she says. "You can still get one to two acres on the coast for $100,000 with a couple hun- dred feet of ocean frontage." e outdoor recreation economy is active and growing. At Machias River Inn, Manager Shelley Roberts says tourism has picked up considerably over the last decade, driven by things like better marketing of the Bold Coast region and establish- ment of the 87-mile multi-use Down East Sunrise Trail, plus regional attractions like puffin tours and Campobello Island, which have broad renown. Create opportunities With assets like the University of Maine at Machias, the airport, the Route 1 corridor and Down East Community Hospital, key components of the economy here are education, health care, retail, professional and business services and financial activities. » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS. Employment Law Seminar Thursday, October 24 Complimentary event, limited seating rudmanwinchell.com/events or call 207.992.2302 Breakfast: 7:30am Seminar: 8am-12pm Cross Insurance Center, 515 Main St., Bangor 17 th Annual R S V P You have to be creative in how you support your family. There's a lot of trades available, but you have to look for it. — Gina Finn Machias River General P H O T O / L E S L I E BOW M A N Gina Finn (pictured) and Caissie Roberts, along with their husbands, bought a vintage building on Main Street and turned it into Machias River General. The couples are returnees, drawn to the community for its close-knit feel and optimistic vibe.