FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2022
Contact: Ben Goodman
Mills Administration Announces New Business Development
and Marketing Effort to Revitalize Former Loring Air Force Base
Investment will help to support the effective redevelopment of the Loring Commerce Centre
Augusta, MAINE – The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) today announced the launch of a two-year business development and marketing campaign to support the revitalization of the former Loring Air Force Base in Limestone. The campaign, funded through a $400,000 investment included in Governor Mills’ supplemental budget, will focus on drawing new business investment to the Loring Commerce Centre and improving economic activity in central Aroostook County.
“Loring Commerce Centre is a major economic asset for Aroostook County, and it has significant infrastructure that’s ready to welcome new business investment,” said Governor Janet Mills. “This new campaign will help to ensure that businesses and investors around the world know why Aroostook County – and Maine – is a great place to do business.”
DECD has selected SHL Enterprise Solutions (SHL), a Greenville-based economic development consulting firm, to lead the effort. SHL principal Steve Levesque most recently led the successful redevelopment of the Brunswick Naval Air Station. SHL will work with DECD and the Loring Development Authority of Maine (LDA) to implement Loring’s Business Sustainability Plan, which was completed last year and adopted by the LDA’s Board of Trustees.
“This investment will help to get the word out about the incredible assets available at the Loring Commerce Centre,” said Heather Johnson, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. “We look forward to partnering with SHL Enterprise Solutions and the Loring Development Authority to strengthen the Loring Commerce Centre and the continued growth of industries vital to Maine’s future.”
The new initiative will focus on strengthening brand awareness and implementation of a robust national and international business marketing strategy with a focus on attracting business sectors to Loring. Priority sectors, as identified in the Sustainability Plan, include transportation equipment, agricultural products, wood products, aerospace industries and energy operations. The LDA campus consists of 3,800 acres including a large aviation complex and more than 2.7 million square feet of available building space.
SHL will partner with Designlab, a full-service graphic design and marketing agency based in Millinocket, and Bull Rock Consulting, a strategic development firm, based in Portland.
Governor Mills proposed funding for this effort in her supplemental budget proposal, which received overwhelming bipartisan support from the Legislature in April. The Governor signed the supplemental budget into law on April 20.
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