Beaulieu offers business advice
FORT KENT — Downtown Fort Kent has taken a few lumps over the past few years — two major fires and business closures. But residents who understand the value of a vibrant downtown recently passed a town warrant calling for a Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District, which is a major step forward in their revitalization efforts.
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION — Fort Kent business owner Justin Dubois listens to Cathy Beaulieu, owner of Wilder’s Jewelry in Presque Isle, talk about her experience with downtown revitalization in the Star City. 
Fort Kent officials are looking for ways to revitalize the community, with plans to create a TIF district.
TIF is a public financing method that is used for subsidizing redevelopment, infrastructure and other community-improvement projects.
TIF is a method to direct future gains in taxes to support local improvements that have been approved by the taxpayers of the community. Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) has been secured by the Town of Fort Kent to assist in developing a Downtown TIF project and TIF application to be presented at a subsequent Town Meeting. Alain Ouellette, planning and development division director for NMDC, has been tasked to assist the town with the initiative.
“The beauty of tax increment financing is it allows the town to do things that would normally require a number of different channels to go through,” said Ouellette. “It streamlines that process of bettering a local community by the very taxpayers who support local growth and development.”
Ouellette said the funds generated from the Downtown TIF District may be used for public improvements, private improvements or to set up a revolving loan fund.
“Fort Kent is really committed to their downtown,” said Ouellette, recounting what Town Manager Don Guimond told him when the possibility of a TIF was first discussed. “There is energy right now in this downtown and it is really positive and focused. There are people who really want to make a difference here.”
Work on an eventual downtown revitalization plan is under way. Ouellette and a group of merchants and town leaders met Nov. 14 to discuss the importance of downtown Fort Kent, what NMDC’s role will be and who should be engaged and involved.
In attendance at the meeting was Justin Dubois, the owner of Quigley’s Building Supply, which has been part of the Fort Kent business landscape since 1944.
“The downtown is the heart of the community,” he said. “We’ve seen some tragic events happen over the last year and this is now a time for us to get a hold of what we have lost and build up something bigger and better.”
Dubois says there is plenty of work to be done which includes spearheading projects, bringing in investors and to drum up retail businesses for the area.
“Downtown Fort Kent has always been vibrant and we want to bring that back,” added Dubois.
In addition to Dubois, in attendance were Rob Johnson, owner of Pelletier Florist and Greenhouse, Alan Susee, owner of the local Sears store, and Carl Theriault, owner of Valley Auto. Representing the Town of Fort Kent was Assistant Community Development Director, Cindy Bouley.
A special guest at the meeting was Cathy Beaulieu, owner of Wilder’s Jewelry in Presque Isle. Beaulieu has been very active in downtown revitalization in the Star City. She was invited to give her perspective on the process. Beaulieu is also a proud native of Fort Kent.
The next steps for the committee are: begin to formulate subcommittees and assign leadership roles; acclimate the committee to the Downtown TIF program and benefits that can be derived; and invite an engineer with extensive downtown revitalization and façade experience to speak to the group.
Ouellette said the eventual revitalization plan will need approval by townspeople at an annual Town Meeting as required by municipal charter.
