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E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T 36 E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N S outh Portland is pleased to announce that Lea Duffy has been appointed as its new economic development director. Duffy brings a diverse background in architecture, develop- ment, small business and real estate. She has a fresh perspective and innovative ideas to foster community connections, enhance collaboration between departments, and champion a philosophy that balances environment, economy and equity. Adaptive and Responsive South Portland's prime location presents many opportunities for continued growth and development. Our "smart growth" approach carefully balances supporting the existing community and businesses while allowing growth in the tax base and job creation. South Portland recognizes the need to take a versatile stance to development, evaluate and re-evaluate, monitor trends and be responsive. Our focus is on expanding the local economy by seeking what is not yet known. It's not about predicting the future, it's about becoming unshakeable and resilient in any future. Building Bridges South Portland sponsors a robust business awards program fea- turing a "business of the month" award as well as an annual gala. ese programs not only demonstrate the city's appreciation of its businesses, but can significantly benefit them through enhanced branding, improved employee morale, increased visibility and a stronger competitive edge. e value lies in the ability to recognize and celebrate accomplishments, boost credibility, promote eco- nomic diversity within the community and drive positive change. Dynamic Solutions South Portland will be updating its Comprehensive Plan later this year. e new plan will serve as the foundational document guiding the next 10-plus years of growth and development across the community and represents a collaborative vision of South Portland's future. e plan will identify new growth areas which pave the way for substantial investment and development opportunities to address the city's housing needs and capacity for future business growth, while balancing natural resources and the many characteristics that ensure quality of life. Next year (2026) will be a busy one as the city begins implementing this ambitious plan and amending the zoning ordinance to support smart growth strategies. ere are many projects already in the pipeline and we look forward to exploring more opportunities in the months ahead. e city has a broad set of tools including tax increment financ- ing, business loans and grant programs, Brownfields Assessment grants and cleanup loan programs. We are also looking forward to the upcoming modifications to the Exit 4 interchange on I-295 that will create south bound access to improve traffic and create additional development opportunities on U.S. Route 1/Main Street. Holistic Foundations South Portland has identified housing as one of its top priorities. We are excited about the current expansion at Betsy Ross House in the eastern waterfront, which added 52 affordable senior apart- ments. "Betsy Ross Crossing" opened in July. ere are several other multi-family housing projects in the works on sites throughout the city, including both affordable and market rate units. In addition to housing, workforce remains one of the region's biggest challenges. is year the city will work with business lead- ers and educational institutions to launch a Workforce Round Table to create new connections and deepen conversations around available labor and honing strategies to attract talent and devel- opment of education programs to meet current and future needs. South Portland leverages its assets by valuing the connec- tion between its built environment and its natural environment. Healthful activities such as hiking, swimming, golfing, biking and other outdoor activities add value to the local economy and drive growth, create jobs and improve the quality of life for everyone in the community. It's a win-win that South Portland has fully embraced as we work to build a better community. l P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F S O U T H P O R T L A N D H O U S I N G A U T H O R I T Y P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F C I T Y O F S O U T H P O R T L A N D P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F C I T Y O F S O U T H P O R T L A N D P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F C I T Y O F S O U T H P O R T L A N D Building Resilience City of South Portland City of South Portland 829 Sawyer St., P.O. Box 9422, South Portland, ME 04116 Lea Duffy, Economic Development Director, lduffy@southportland.gov (207) 347-4139 www.southportland.gov Below Left to Right: The 2024 Annual Business Awards Gala.; South Portland Housing Authority's Betsy Ross Crossing housing expansion, more info & applications at www.spha.net.; Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse. Above: Arial view of South Portland.

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