Initiatives & Projects
Current and Ongoing Projects
In 2015-16 Main Street led a community-wide, collaborative process to craft a strategic plan for Skowhegan. We gathered a team of community leaders, residents, and stakeholders; spent six months reviewing local and regional data, comprehensive plans, and other pertinent documents; and then through an all-voices in approach, we engaged more than 500 members of the community through surveys, focus groups, and community meetings. In June 2016, Skowhegan residents adopted the Skowhegan Strategic Plan for Community Transformation at the annual town meeting. The plan's goal is to make Skowhegan a thriving economic, cultural, and recreational destination where residents enjoy a high quality of life. Learn more about the process and plan here.
Skowhegan's strategic plan guides all of our work. Our projects and initiatives are directly tied to the plan's strategies—strategies that were developed by our community members with the goal of ensuring Skowhegan's brightest future.
The Skowhegan River Park
The river park will redevelop the Skowhegan Gorge for the benefit of the community by making the river accessible via trails, an ADA ramp, and stairs from downtown; enhancing whitewater for kayaking, surfing, SUPing, river boarding, and more; constructing a promenade with river viewing areas and welcoming green space; and an expanded trail network with an estimated 50 miles of trails accessible via the commercial district.
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Center for Entrepreneurship
Located on the second floor of 181 Water Street, the Center for Entrepreneurship fulfills a number of needs—based on what we heard from the business needs assessment—in Skowhegan, from co-working and meeting space to providing a central location for entrepreneurial support, trainings, and education. We’re excited to assist with the continued growth of Skowhegan’s local food hub and outdoor recreation economy.
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Business Lab & Pitch
Business Lab™ is a fast-paced, interactive program of seven classes held over seven weeks—culminating in a $5K pitch competition—designed to help you create, refine, implement, and present your business. We cover the essentials of business strategy, finance and profitability, marketing and sales, business planning, and project implementation to ensure that you have the tools you need to be successful!
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Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Led by Main Street Skowhegan, a team of community members is assessing support systems available to entrepreneurs, determining gaps, and drafting a plan to improve Skowhegan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Armed with data from a community survey, industry market analysis, the Skowhegan Business Needs Assessment, and grant funding from the Maine Community Foundation, the Skowhegan team is working to strengthen support for new and existing entrepreneurs and encourage new investment in Skowhegan.
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SkowOutdoors Basecamp
The upward momentum and growth of the Skowhegan Outdoors program have prompted our organization to move into a larger, more accessible, and visible space in downtown Skowhegan at 65 Water Street, a two-story historic building in the heart of the commercial district and adjacent to the Kennebec River. We are transforming the 3,000-square-foot, river-adjacent half of the first floor into a community gathering place from which Skowhegan Outdoors will expand our gear library and host free outdoor-focused programs.
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Skowhegan Outdoors AmeriCorps Program
The Skowhegan Outdoors Initiative is a step toward ensuring that everyone in the Skowhegan community has equitable access to the outdoors, opportunities to attend free outdoor activities, and the tools (free gear!) to experience the natural world on their own. Activities (3x/week) and after-school programs are led by our Program Coordinator Ben Koehler, Basecamp Coordinator Mitch Buehler, and a team of AmeriCorps members serving as Outdoor Rec Facilitators Jean, Mimah, and Greg.
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Village Design Initiatives
Main Street's Village Design Committee—comprising 20+ committee members who represent local leadership, community members, and business owners—is focused on pedestrian safety and enhancing bike/pedestrian infrastructure, parking, traffic, riverfront connectivity, and more. The committee will work with the municipality and MaineDOT throughout 2022-23 on the Town's Village Partnership Initiative, a project to develop and implement a master design plan for Skowhegan’s commercial core that will improve the quality of life for residents while promoting economic growth, enhancing the visitor experience, and guiding future development of Skowhegan.
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Technical Assistance Grants
An initiative of Main Street's Business Enhancement Committee, the Main Street Skowhegan TA Grant Program has awarded to date $31,500 to more than two dozen Skowhegan-based businesses over the last three years—when businesses needed the support most. In 2022, we divvied up $5,000 in funding to seven businesses. Grant-supported projects included the purchase of a new walk-in freezer, a road sign, a leather sewing machine, and new video equipment, as well as social media marketing consultation, and the development of an e-commerce website.
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Business & Entrepreneur Development Resources
Recognizing the need for collaboration, regional economic development leaders came together to form the Community Economic Resource Council. With representatives from Main Street Skowhegan, the Skowhegan Economic Development Corporation, Skowhegan Regional Chamber of Commerce, Somerset Economic Development Corporation, and the Town of Skowhegan, this partnership will strengthen economic development initiatives, promote Somerset County as the ideal rural Maine location to start a business, and provide a one-stop resource for business owners and new entrepreneurs.
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Trail Master Plan
This trails concept plan outlines the analysis and recommendations to create over 60 miles of natural surface and active transportation trails in and around Skowhegan. This plan identifies the next steps and priorities for the community, including bike lanes, bike parks, hiking trails, and shared-use routes. The successful completion of this vision will require time, dedication, organization, and collaboration and will result in a stronger, more connected, and better place to visit, live, and work.
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#SKOW Initiative
Someplace Kind Of Wonderful
Skowhegan is truly #SKOW—Someplace Kind Of Wonderful, and we're celebrating our community through a social media campaign, a collaborative community birdhouse initiative, new streetlight pole banners, and more!
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Kennebec on Fire
A project of the Somerset County Rural Cultural Plan and a collaborative effort between Main Street Skowhegan and the Wesserunsett Arts Council, Kennebec on Fire is a seasonal public art installation in the Kennebec River—in Skowhegan's Big Eddy. Similar to WaterFire in Providence, RI, Kennebec on Fire features several floating sculptures with fire braziers that will be lit during festivals and events.
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Events & Festivals
Each year Main Street Skowhegan plans a number of community events and large-scale festivals to bring visitors to Skowhegan. Check out this year's lineup here.
Regional Tourism Videos
Through a partnership with the Kennebec Valley Tourism Council and the development of event marketing tools, Main Street Skowhegan has built a robust video library that showcases all that Skowhegan and the Kennebec Valley Region has to offer. Check them out here.
Visit Skowhegan
In 2016 Main Street created and launched VisitSkowhegan.com, a website designed to promote the Skowhegan area and all it has to offer, including restaurants, lodging, activities, events, and more. Check it out—you won't be disappointed!
Skowhegan Visitors' Guide
Every other year, Main Street Skowhegan and the Skowhegan Area Chamber of Commerce collaborate to create a full-color, magazine-size visitors’ guide for the area. Robust and visually appealing, the visitors' guide showcases all the Skowhegan area has to offer, including restaurants, breweries, lodging, historical sites, recreation, arts and culture, agricultural experiences, family activities, events, and more.
#ShopSkowhegan
In 2019 after executing several successful Small Business Saturday events, Main Street Skowhegan kicked off a year-round shop local program. Any Skowhegan business can participate and consumers benefit from making purchases, with $25 gift cards awarded to shoppers each month. Thanks to Bangor Savings Bank for sponsoring #ShopSkowhegan!
Langlais Art Trail
In 2013 Main Street Skowhegan received more than 20 Bernard Langlais sculptures from the Kohler Foundation. Restored pieces have been installed at the Skowhegan Free Public Library, Main Street Skowhegan office, Skowhegan Municipal Building, Skowhegan Community Center, Skowhegan Area Chamber of Commerce, and several outdoor locations. Find more details and a list of all the sculptures and their locations here.
Rural Cultural Arts Plan Implementation
In 2017, Main Street Skowhegan and the Wesserunsett Arts Council teamed up to gather information about cultural resources in Somerset County, including those related to recreation, agriculture, the arts, history, community, and more. We used the information to craft a cultural plan that will leverage and promote those resources to help drive tourism to the region and boost the economy. For more information, click here.
Public Gardens
Main Street Skowhegan volunteers have improved downtown Skowhegan’s public gardens and play a major role in our community’s ongoing revitalization. Our head garden coordinator makes plans for the year, coordinates volunteer parties, and engages students, the Skowhegan Rotary Club, and other groups to plant flowers, clean up garden beds, and perform ongoing maintenance. For more information and photos, see our Public Gardens page.
Past Projects
Guinness World Record! Guinness World Records confirmed that Main Street Skowhegan and the Town of Skowhegan set the new world record for the most people moose calling simultaneously! The record was established on June 9, 2018, at the 2018 Skowhegan Moose Festival when 1,054 people participated in the world record attempt led by Registered Maine Guide Roger Lambert.
Skowhegan Moose Festival In 2018, Main Street Skowhegan planned and executed the Skowhegan Moose Festival, a weekend-long festival at the historic Skowhegan Fairgrounds that attracted an estimated 6,000 people from across 13 states. The video of the world record attempt on the Skowhegan Moose Festival Facebook page garnered more than 16,000 views and marketing efforts garnered Main Street Skowhegan an award from the Maine Office of Tourism.
BikeMaine 2017 Skowhegan is proud to have served as a BikeMaine 2017 host community! The 2017 ride—Pathway to the Peaks—both started and ended in Skowhegan, bringing 400 riders to our town. With a total economic impact of approximately $1.7 million in 2016 (and $626,000 directly impacting host towns), BikeMaine is proven to have a strong economic impact. BikeMaine cyclists are excited about exploring communities, enjoying cultural experiences, and eating locally sourced food—and many of them become repeat visitors.
Main Street Skowhegan Savings Entrepreneur Challenge In 2015 Main Street Skowhegan and Skowhegan Saving Bank teamed up with area organizations and business leaders to develop an entrepreneurship program designed to strengthen Skowhegan’s economy and spur business development. In 2017 we launched our second Entrepreneur Challenge, which featured more than $23,000 in benefits and incentives for the winning entrepreneur. For more information, see the Entrepreneur Challenge page.
Skowopoly In 2016 Main Street created Skowopoly, a version of the beloved board game Monopoly featuring Skowhegan businesses and organizations. All proceeds benefit Skowhegan revitalization projects—click here for a quick video of people playing the game and for information on how to purchase.
Facade Improvement Program Since 2008 there have been three rounds of Community Development Block Grant building facade improvements, affecting more than 40 businesses.
Branding Initiative In 2011 Main Street Skowhegan led a town branding initiative, resulting in the creation of a standardized look and feel for signage, logos, and materials. It also provided a standard messaging platform for telling Skowhegan's unique story.
Food Hub Work with the Sewall Foundation enabled Main Street to help develop Skowhegan as a food hub, with a multi-farm CSA—or Community Supported Agriculture, a model for buying local food in which the customer purchases a share of the harvest and receives a weekly basket of seasonal foods.
Skowhegan Indian Sculpture Restoration Skowhegan's iconic 62-foot wooden sculpture was crafted by renowned Maine artist Bernard Langlais and “dedicated to the Maine Indians, the first people to use these lands in peaceful ways.” Main Street worked with the Skowhegan Area Chamber of Commerce to provide leadership for the Skowhegan Indian Restoration Committee. With help from many donors, Main Street finished fundraising in April 2014, and the restoration work was completed that August. Find more information on Langlais artwork in Skowhegan here.
Langlais Park After raising funds for the Skowhegan Indian sculpture restoration project, Main Street made plans to develop a mini park and viewing area in front of the sculpture. Main Street built a cast stone walkway and added new signage. An educational garden of edible and medicinal plants traditionally used by the Abenaki people completes the park. Find more information on Langlais artwork in Skowhegan here.
Mass Transit Main Street Skowhegan worked with the Kennebec Valley Community Action Program (KVCAP), Somerset Public Health, and area towns to plan transit service. In November 2012 two Somerset Explorer bus lines opened. They operate in Skowhegan and connect to Madison, Anson, and Norridgewock.
McLellan Building Rehabilitation Main Street Skowhegan applied for and received a grant from the Sewall Foundation to kickstart the rehabilitation process. Deteriorating storage rooms were turned into a multi-use studio now inhabited by Midge’s Theater Arts Studio, Kid Friendly Photo, a Pilates instructor, and a yoga instructor. Another room was renovated to serve as a community exercise room. Main Street secured grant funding to acquire equipment and a key-card system so downtown employees and residents can access the room for their improved wellness.
Nutrition Assistance In partnership with the Skowhegan Farmers’ Market, Redington-Fairview General Hospital, Somerset Public Health, MCD Public Health, and MeHAF, Main Street Skowhegan helped low-income families and patients at risk for developing diet-related illnesses increase their consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables from the local farmers’ market. Wholesome Wave and Harvard Pilgrim Health Foundation support these innovative initiatives.
Pedestrian Connector Project After Main Street Skowhegan oversaw the process of drafting a design plan and writing a state grant, construction began in 2014. Main Street then worked with the Skowhegan Economic Development Department to apply for a federal grant to finish the second phase of work to the parking lot, which included a new asphalt surface and much-needed storm water infrastructure improvements to stop flooding in nearby businesses.
Streetscape Amenities Through the Communities for Maine's Future Bond and a Downtown Plan, Main Street Skowhegan was able to help the town leverage half a million dollars of new infrastructure investment for better pedestrian crossing lights. With help from the Maine Community Foundation, Environmental Funders Network, and Skowhegan area businesses and volunteers, Main Street now has four seasons of street-pole banners. In partnership with the Sewall Foundation, downtown walkability has been improved.
Worksite Wellness Main Street Skowhegan worked with Somerset Public Health to offer nutrition incentives for any small business owner or employees who take part in the Worksite Wellness program. Through support from the New Balance Foundation, Doree Taylor Foundation, Johnston Family Foundation, and Bingham Program, food shares from more than 40 area farms are improving the eating habits of working families. This program in Skowhegan has been replicated in nine other communities statewide as the Healthy Maine Streets program. The program continues under the care of Somerset Public Health.
