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V O L . X X I N O. X X S E P T E M B E R 7 , 2 0 1 5 20 In June, the city of Gardiner said it was receiv- ing $300,000 in a CDBG to help Lost Orchard Brewing Co., which makes hard apple cider, to buy equipment and inventory and acquire working capi- tal. e funds are being matched by $444,000 from the company and will create 10 jobs. Also, the city is receiving $540,000 to help Central Maine Meats LLC buy equipment and inventory and acquire working capital. e funds are being matched by $960,000 from the company, which aims to create 18 jobs. With the mix of craft breweries, a food co-op and various eateries, Dyer says, "We want to be a successful as Portland, but in our own way." Another draw to the city is its historic buildings, namely Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center, whose upper fl oor needs to be renovated, says Melissa Lindley, program coordinator of Gardiner Main Street. Strolling the streets of downtown, she also points to a series of historical posters mounted in store windows, which next year will become part of a historic walking trail. Waterville Kennebec County | Founded 1802 Persons aged 65+: 16.7% Persons under 18: 17.9% Land area: 13.58 square miles Per capita income: $16,430 Budget (FY2016): $37.8M (proposed) Known for: Arts/culture S O U R C E : U.S. Census, towns, cities, state. Figures from 2010 unless otherwise noted. Waterville, which has the advantage of pulling in students from Colby College, omas College and Kennebec Valley Community College, has made news lately due to moves by Colby College. at college in late July bought the Old Hains Building and Levine's clothing store building downtown, and plans to buy a third, at 16-20 Main St., to help revitalize Waterville. e college reportedly will use the buildings for housing and retail stores. Some large investments have brought high-class entertainment and tourism to Waterville. Colby College Art Museum's $15 million Alfond-Lunder Family Pavilion opened in 2013 with a world-class collection of art. e Waterville Opera House com- pleted a $5 million renovation in 2012. e Waterville Public Library underwent a $3 million expansion, and the Maine Film Center bought the Railroad Square Cinema in December 2012 to create a permanent home for the 10-day Maine International Film Festival. e city also recently held the 23 rd Taste of Waterville, a festival about food, says Kimberly Lindlof, president and CEO of the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce in Waterville. Activities like that, and new businesses like Empower Body & Pole Fitness, are energizing the town, she notes. Take Heather MacKenzie, 25, and her sister Kate Poulin, 28, who grew up in nearby Winslow. With all the new activities on Main Street, MacKenzie wanted her pole exercise studio there. "Main Street is growing so much, there are so many diff erent restaurants, a consignment store and other things to do," MacKenzie enthuses, saying she makes enough money from her classes, which include pole exercise, burlesque, CIZE (a hip hop dance workout) and some exotic dancing. She adds, "I'm involved with the Chamber so I know the business owners. I like to shop local." Waterville has another advantage for businesses in that has a Foreign Trade Zone, which means companies meeting certain criteria get tax and tariff breaks on imports and exports, Lindlof says. Olsen of Waterville Main Street says it's impor- tant to be patient in turning around communities to make last ing changes. " ere are formal and informal spheres of infl u- ence, and you have to understand them," she says. L V, Mainebiz senior writer, can be reached a t @ . a n d @ LV » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E All of Your Staffing Needs in One Place Quality health care staffing to help you maintain excellent patient care. Call us today! 207-854-2422 directpersonnel.net 1-800-639-8802 mainestaff.com A corporate division of Maine Staffing Group Get engaged, inspired and connected with a print + digital subscription to Mainebiz. You'll receive bi-weekly issues, special publications and full online access! Know Maine Business. Or call: 845.267.3008 Subscribe online: mainebiz.biz/knowmainebiz P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Heather MacKenzie, co-owner of Empower: Body & Pole Fitness, at her stuido in downtown Waterville.

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