CEI believes that taking a place-based approach to development is one very important part of creating viable communities throughout the state of Maine. Our Sustainable Communities program undertakes projects in community and economic development with businesses, nonprofit organizations, cities and towns as partners or clients. Projects develop from opportunities we identify in-house, through contracts we bid on or are brought to us by people who think our skills and relationships could help.

The themes of economy, equity and environment—the three Es—guide our work. In every project, we look for opportunities to generate economic return, increase social capital and build in environmental innovation. We are also mindful of the debilitating effect of sprawl on Maine communities and the local economy. Whenever possible, we focus our efforts on service center communities and downtowns.

There are three staff in Sustainable Communities and our backgrounds include planning, community development, workforce development, anthropology and cultural resources. We work throughout Maine with ongoing relationships in Lincoln County and western Maine. We also pay attention to economic sectors. Presently, we've been tracking Maine's cultural economy and working to integrate the arts into community development. In addition, we are applying renewable energy to community development through a community wind feasibility study in Waldo County.

For more information on our individual projects, click on the links to the left.