By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — City officials are working to give Caribou an official “Business Friendly” distinction from the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.
“It’s good promotion [for Caribou] and you can use this in your promotional tools to attract businesses,” said Caribou City Manager Austin Bleess. “It also typically will give you a few extra bonus points in grant applications for CDBG funds, which you can use for economic development and housing redevelopment.”
Working to finalize the city’s application, Bleess has encountered positive support from the business community; one aspect of the process stipulates that the city must have letters from area businesses, and two businesses had drafted letters of support turned in at the start of the month.
Bleess said that William Tasker, director of the Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce, has been doing a good job getting the word out to local businesses and NMDC has also drafted a letter of support.
“The businesses understand the benefits that go along with creating more businesses in town; it’s a self perpetuating cycle — the more you grow, the better off everyone is,” he said.
Public comment will also be needed to prove that Caribou’s community is engaged with the process of becoming a certified Business-Friendly Community.
With applications due early next month, there are four specific benefits that could come with certification.
According to the Maine DEPD website, certified communities receive recognition on the state website, the community will become a key part of Maine’s business attraction strategy, the community will receive an award presented by Governor Paul LePage as well as receiving two “Business-Friendly Community” signs.
Between the possible missile defense base, making updates to the city’s comprehensive plan and looking at downtown revitalization and housing rehabilitation, Bleess said that there are a lot of opportunities for Caribou.
“It’s a new time for the city, there’s a new management structure with the new assistant city manager and myself, and we’re making some really good changes to propel Caribou forward,” he said.
Listing just a few positives Caribou has going for it, Bleess cited an excellent location and a number of great spots within the community that are underutilized — like unoccupied businesses on Sweden, Hershal and Washburn Street and even the old Birdseye processing plant that are prime for redevelopment.
“Broadway Street and Limestone Street — those are some beautiful areas of town with the river right there,” Bleess said. “There are so many great things that the city could do, and that’s what we’re looking to redevelop.”
Of course, with huge potential comes a huge workload and city officials aren’t afraid of the hard work ahead.
“There’s a lot of potential for a lot of sites; it’s just going to take some dedicated staff hours and citizen involvement to drive this project forward,” he added. “It’s going to take a partnership of city government, private business and private individuals to step forward and promote the community to help redevelop some of these area – and this is just the first step.”
