As the long dark night of the Great Recession seems to be passing, the warm morning sun of economic confidence and new growth is dawning upon the great city of Auburn, Maine. The promise of the new morning of prosperity results not simply from good luck or chance, but rather from Auburn’s ability to foster public-private partnerships attracting a concentration of highly accomplished, successful and innovative professionals, entrepreneurs and investors. Combined with an incomparably favorable location as a regional transportation/distribution/logistics hub, and a community-based ethic of education, life-long learning, and civic advancement, the city of Auburn is well positioned for the brightest days just upon the horizon.

The following are some of the bright rays of morning light that have made Auburn shine during this past year:

· The coming construction of the $8.5-million Auburn Ice Arena;

· The coming constructions of a new  $500,000 Downtown Transportation Center;

· The 74,000-sq.-ft. $6.7-million Tambrands expansion;

· The 3,000-sq.-ft. $250,000 Eastern Fire Protection expansion;

· The 20,000-sq.-ft. $1.1-million Auburn Manufacturing Co. expansion;

· The coming construction of the new $3.4-million 8-lot Auburn Industrial Park;

· The coming construction of the $3-million 6,600-ft. extension of the Rangeley Branch railroad line in partnership with the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad;

· The $1-million improvement project to the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport;

· The $3-million construction of the 22-unit River Shore Place residential development;

· The $7.5-million redevelopment of the 28-unit historic Webster School Apartments;

· The $1-million construction of the Academy Street Townhouses;

· The $500,000 construction of the new Panera Bread at the Auburn Mall;

· The $500,000 construction of the new Aspen Dental facility at the Auburn Mall;

· The $900,000 expansion to the Gendron and Gendron, Inc. property at 33 Omni Circle;

· The $600,000 renovation for a new assisted housing property by Shaw’s Realty;

· The $300,000 improvement and expansion to the Nissan dealership;

· The kick-off of the community-based New Auburn Neighborhood Transportation Plan process;

· The development of the new Riverfront Park upon the Little Androscoggin River in the New Auburn Neighborhood;

· And the $200,000-plus renovation of the 31 Court Street building for the new Norway Savings Bank downtown location, just to name a few.

Auburn is also on the leading edge of advancing the “Economics of Place” by designing and delivering a high-quality, vibrant, walkable and socially engaging “public realm” combined with distinctive destination places. By designing and developing more “great streets” that offer meaningful and memorable experiences, cultural and artistic enrichment, heritage and historic tourism, a hip evening scene, and the pleasure of spontaneous social encounter, Auburn is increasingly recognized as a hotbed for young and creative professionals, innovative start-up companies, and an appealing New Urban lifestyle in Maine.

Today, the city of Auburn serves as a regional and national model of economic success through energetic and highly-collaborative efforts which deliver enhanced professional opportunities, educational advancement, outstanding quality of life, and broad prosperity for our distinctive community upon the great Androscoggin River in beautiful Maine.

As Maine poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote in his legendary poem “Sunrise on the Hills”:

“I stood upon the hills, when heaven’s wide arch,

Was glorious with the sun’s returning march,

And woods were brightened, and soft gales

Went forth to kiss the sun-clad vales …”

Join us in the fine city of Auburn for the coming economic sunrise and for prosperity’s “returning march.”

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