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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 21 O C T O B E R 1 6 , 2 0 1 7 "We've got to keep at it," Bebb says. " e goal is to make sure it's a thriving town year-round and not just a summer community. It's a struggle. We have very few businesses that close in the winter, but they defi nitely make hay in the summer in order to be open the rest of the year. We want to give reasons to people to come to Belfast in January, February and March." e other side of the equation, all agree, is ensur- ing that employers and employees thrive. Currently, conversations are underway about aff ordable housing, identifi ed as a top priority by the city council, with the planning board reviewing possible ordinance changes to encourage aff ordable housing options. Worker shortage looms large Workforce shortages are also a problem. "People want to do business here," says Hurley. "We're so successful that employers are struggling to get new hires. Everywhere you drive around Belfast, you see 'now hiring' signs. It's a real challenge." At Rollie's restaurant, in business since 1972, owner Ryan Otis recently completed a seating expansion due to increased visitation and an increase in demand for his catering business. But he was unable to utilize the expansion this summer, except for special events, due to lack of staff . "We're at 27 employees. To do what we need to do right, we should be at 32 or 33," he says. "We're hurting for kitchen help more than anything." More business and community attractions also means more parking problems: It's another new issue on the table, with a balance to be struck between paving downtown land versus not having enough parking for visitors and locals alike, says the chamber's Ryan. "Is that just the price of success or is it a problem that will deter people? I don't think it's at that point yet, but it's another important dis- cussion around how we can be visitor-friendly." More broadly, Belfast is seeking a balance between growth and character. "How do you tell people who maybe want to build a hotel, 'No, we've got it exactly the way we want it,'" Hurley says. "You can't do that. Healthy cities grow. What can we do to make this a city that's going to grow, but will be what we want when it does grow? at's how we try to frame these conversations. I don't think anyone is saying, 'We don't want to grow.' I think they're all saying, 'How do we grow?' ese are huge issues." L S , M a i n e b i z s e n i o r w r i t e r , c a n b e r e a c h e d a t @ . 866.736.2804 mainebls.com EQUIPMENT REAL ESTATE BUSINESS ACQUISITION Maine Loans for Maine Businesses Loans from $50,000 to $20,000,000 Streamlined Process Gets Deals Done Quickly Decisions Made in Maine Toll-free 1-866-HAMMOND www.hammondlumber.com F O C U S P H O T O / F R E D J. F I E L D Thomas Kittredge, Belfast's economic development director, at the waterfront, which has been a key part of the city's growth.

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