ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Bridgton, Maine– A Maine Place for All Seasons

  The Town of Bridgton, located in the heart of Maine’s Lake Region, is one of the area’s fastest-growing communities. Located only 40 miles from Portland, Maine’s largest city, and 30 miles from the retail center of North Conway, New Hampshire, Bridgton is emerging as a regional service center that offers a multitude of shopping, medical, educational, and recreational resources to its residents and visitor.

The Town’s year-round population is estimated at 5,200 and during the summer Bridgton swells to 15,000-20,000. The Town has been growing steadily over the last several decades. From 1960-2000 Bridgton experienced a population increase of 80%. The community is expected to grow by another 13% by 2015.

The combination of Bridgton’s status as a regional service center, its standing as a four-season tourist destination and its position along Route 302 has resulted in significant commercial development in the last several years. Bridgton has issued more than 100 commercial building permits and 500 residential building permits since 2000. Within the last several years dozens of new business have located in Bridgton. These include Dunkin’ Donuts, Hannaford Supermarkets, and Hancock Lumber Company as well as numerous local startups. In addition several existing business are making significant investments in Bridgton. Reny’s Department Store is currently constructing a significant addition to the existing store and Magic Lantern Cinema has decided to invest over one and a half million dollars in a new and expanded theater in the heart of the downtown.

Beyond the private investment, Bridgton has recently been the recipient of several large grants. In 2005 the Town was awarded a $342,000 Community Development Block Grant. This money will be spent to expand two parking lots in the downtown, which will result in a net gain of approximately 100 spaces. This should provided ample parking for those doing business in the downtown. In addition, in 2006 Bridgton became part of the CDBG Cumberland County Entitlement Program. This program will afford the community grant money averaging $200,000 a year over the next five years. The Town plans to use this money to expand the municipal sewer system in the downtown area.

 

Micah Niemy
Economic and Community Development Director
ecodevdir@bridgtonmaine.org
Town of Bridgton
3 Chase Street, Suite 1
Bridgton, ME 04009
Tel. (207) 647-8786
Fax (207) 647-8789