Initiatives & Projects
Main Street Skowhegan (MSS) is committed to realizing the goal of the Skowhegan strategic plan: Skowhegan is a thriving economic, cultural, and recreational destination where residents enjoy a high quality of life. 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.
MSS has a robust history of launching and managing impactful community initiatives that are designed to diversify and grow the economy while capitalizing on regional assets and resources.
Community Transformation through Outdoor Recreation
MSS is spearheading a comprehensive approach to community transformation through outdoor recreation by weaving together infrastructure development, programming & gear, mentorship and third spaces for youth, and career pathways through the Skowhegan Outdoors AmeriCorps Program—all with an eye toward inclusion and equity. Scroll down for more info about these projects.
Entrepreneurship and Business Development
MSS provides business planning support and programming via our Center for Entrepreneurship and as part of a regional hub-and-spoke entrepreneurial ecosystem partnership with the Central Maine Growth Council, SBDC, KVCC, Colby College, and others. With an annual Start Summit in partnership with the Roux Institute, a Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in collaboration with JMG, our new Business Lab Bootcamp, and the eight-week Business Lab & Pitch Competition, MSS is fostering aspiring entrepreneurs and early stage startups, building a pipeline for growth and acceleration.
Food Economy Focus
Our future commercial kitchen incubator, The Kitchen at 185, will cultivate local food startups and grow the region’s food economy by offering training and workforce development opportunities. This facility will offer low-barrier-to-entry production space and expand value-add and retail opportunities for niche local food producers, aspiring culinary entrepreneurs, and farmers who are creating unique quality products. We’ve established partnerships with KVCC and UMaine to expand opportunities for culinary students, offer career pathways and skills development for aspiring culinary professionals, and develop a six-month program that offers support and business basics to make food startups financially sustainable. In 2025, we’re collaborating with the UMaine Cooperative Extension to expand their Recipe to Market program and educate a cohort of food entrepreneurs by providing them with the important business, food/food safety skills and resources needed to grow and/or scale their businesses.
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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Kitchen at 185
We are developing a shared-use commercial kitchen designed to drive food innovation and workforce development in central Maine. It supports food entrepreneurs, farmers, and current businesses through incubation programs, co-packing services, and job training, fostering economic growth and creating low-barrier opportunities in the region’s vibrant food sector.
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Skowhegan Outdoors AmeriCorps Program
The Skowhegan Outdoors program ensures 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. We run activities, trainings, after school programs, and summer camps—all free!
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SkowOutdoors Basecamp
The Skowhegan Outdoors Basecamp is our new, walk-in gear-lending library located at 65 Water Street (river side)! Open year-round (closed Dec 20-Jan2), in downtown Skowhegan, the basecamp offers more than 200 pieces of equipment for you to borrow—for free if you're a Somerset County resident! To request gear, you can fill out our online form or walk in and ask one of our friendly Outdoor Rec Facilitators.
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Trail Master Plan
We recently commissioned a concept plan that details the development and enhancement of over 60 miles of natural surface and active transportation trails in and around Skowhegan. We're working with other community partners to put this plan into action!
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Workforce Development
In December 2023, a regional coalition led by Main Street Skowhegan, secured an Economic Development Administration Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program Phase 1 Strategy Development Grant of $425,000 to create and connect people to good jobs. In addition, the coalition was invited as one of 22 national finalists—out of more than 500 applicants—to apply for up to $50 million in Phase 2 Implementation funding in the spring of 2024.
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Visitor & Talent Attraction
Main Street Skowhegan is leading a $485,000, Maine Office of Tourism-funded, regional effort to create a destination development master plan and brand strategy for the Skowhegan/Waterville area. Partners include the Central Maine Growth Council and Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce. We anticipate launch of the new regional brand in the spring of 2025.
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Entrepreneurship & Innovation
We are supporting entrepreneurs and encouraging innovation, via a regional, hub-and-spoke entrepreneurial ecosystem partnerships with the Central Main Growth Council. This model integrates industry-aligned training, robust employer connections, and business incubation, supported by a powerful mentor network and access to capital that empowers entrepreneurs at every stage. Our Center for Entrepreneurship serves as a satellite location.
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Village Design Initiatives
Main Street's Village Design Committee is focused on pedestrian safety and enhancing bike/pedestrian infrastructure, parking, traffic, riverfront connectivity, and more. The committee has been working with the municipality and MaineDOT on the Town's Village Partnership Initiative, a project to develop and implement a master design plan for Skowhegan’s commercial core, and with the Town's Resiliency Committee on a bike/ped connector hub.
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Technical Assistance Grants
The Main Street Skowhegan TA Grant Program has awarded more than $31,000 to more than two dozen Skowhegan-based businesses over the last several years. Grant-supported projects have 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 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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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.
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.
Public Gardens
Main Street Skowhegan's dedicated garden volunteers have beautified downtown Skowhegan for many years. Our garden coordinators make plans for the year, coordinate volunteer parties, and engage 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.
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.
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.
