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V O L . X X I V N O. V I M A R C H 1 9 , 2 0 1 8 28 "We've certainly been a catalyst," Levesque says. Cook's Corner shopping area, which is next to the site on Route 24, has struggled with vacancies since the base closed, but is reemerging. So is nearby Topsham, which benefi ts from activity at the Brunswick site as well as its 74-acre Topsham annex. e housing on the former base, single-family homes and duplex work- force housing, is 100% occupied. Some 230 units have been sold. "People have come back," Levesque said. " e housing fi lled up much quicker than we anticipated." 'Scared to death' e town, region and state felt a collec- tive shudder when the Navy announced in 2005 that the base would close in 2011. e numbers were staggering — it would mean the loss of 6,500 jobs, 700 of them civilian, and a $140 mil- lion payroll that had been vital to the local economy since 143. e vacancy rate in Brunswick and the surrounding area was expected to hit 10%, with a loss of $14 million in rent and mortgage income. Area schools were expected to lose 10% of their students and millions in federal school aid that went with them. "It's diff erent from a mill closure," Levesque says. "As terrible as it is when a mill closes, people tend to stay in the community and fi nd other jobs." e 700 civilian employees of the base probably did that, he says. "But there were 4,000 active military, and they moved, with their families," he says. e hit was tremendous. " ey had huge spending power, they were in the schools, they had spouses who worked in the community," he says. Plans for redevelopment began shortly after the closure announce- ment was made. "Obviously, we were scared to death," he says. e plan was to put together a project that would eventually equal the economic impact the Navy had. e planning process made an eff ort to get the community on board. He says the state and congressional delegation have been supportive from the beginning. "Businesses embraced it, the public embraced it," he says. "People wanted to be a part of it." Visioning sessions were held for the general public, for civilian employees, and other groups to deter- mine what they'd like to see in the transformation. One was also held for high school students. "We weren't sure of how it was going to go," Levesque says, laughing. "We fi gured we'd probably see a lot of skateboard parks." e surprise was more than pleas- ant, it was an eye-opener. " ese kids were all about the future, all about technology and innovation," he says. "What we've done with technology? It comes from them." e new name — Brunswick Landing: Maine's Center for Innovation — came from the high schoolers. " ey grasped the future and how this ties in," he says. Still some challenges Once the Navy made the decision to close the base, it stopped maintaining buildings and infrastructure. at's one of the major issues the MRRA has to deal with as it contin- ues to recruit businesses. e vacant buildings aren't energy effi cient, their infrastructure no longer functions. Many don't meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards. ere are very large hangar spaces to fi ll — including those built by the Navy in 2005 to house Boeing 737s. "I spend a lot of time out of state [recruiting]," Levesque says. Maine businesses that want to relocate to Brunswick Landing have to prove they can't fi nd an adequate site in their home community. e campus is supposed to help build economy, not shift it from one part of the state to another. » C O N T I N U E D F RO M PA G E 2 6 "I had them not only answering my ques ons, but they were excited for my business." Simply Smart S m a l l B u s i n e s s S u i t e www.KennebecSavings.Bank/SimplySmart For small businesses: Check out our Simply Smart Small Business Suite – a quick and easy way to arrange all of the financial tools necessary to grow your business. Local Lending. We Make It Easy Ka e Smith, Small Business Owner, Circa 1885 Augusta (207) 622-5801 • Farmingdale (207) 588-5801 Freeport (207) 865-1550 • Waterville (207) 872-5563 • Winthrop (207) 377-5801 www.KennebecSavings.Bank Do your employees take pride in what you do? Find out. F O R I N F O R M AT I O N A N D TO A P P LY G O TO B E S T P L AC E S TO W O R K M E. C O M 2018 Premier Sponsor A N E M P LO Y E E E N G A G E M E N T P R O G R A M D E A D L I N E: M AY 25 [Closing a Navy base] is different from a mill closure. [Closing a Navy base] is different from a mill closure. [Closing a Navy base] is different from a mill closure. [Closing a Navy base] is different from a mill closure. [Closing a Navy base] is different from a mill closure. [Closing a Navy base] is different from a mill closure. [Closing a Navy base] is different from a mill closure. [Closing a Navy base] is different from a mill closure. [Closing a Navy base] is different from a mill closure. [Closing a Navy base] is different from a mill closure. [Closing a Navy base] is different from a mill closure. [Closing a Navy base] is different from a mill closure. [Closing a Navy base] is different from a mill closure. [Closing a Navy base] is different from a mill closure. As terrible as it is when a mill closes, people tend to As terrible as it is when a mill closes, people tend to As terrible as it is when a mill closes, people tend to As terrible as it is when a mill closes, people tend to As terrible as it is when a mill closes, people tend to As terrible as it is when a mill closes, people tend to As terrible as it is when a mill closes, people tend to As terrible as it is when a mill closes, people tend to As terrible as it is when a mill closes, people tend to As terrible as it is when a mill closes, people tend to As terrible as it is when a mill closes, people tend to As terrible as it is when a mill closes, people tend to As terrible as it is when a mill closes, people tend to stay in the community and fi nd other jobs. — Steve Levesque Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority

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