While many parts of America are still painstakingly battling the ongoing economic crisis, Lewiston and Auburn are against the odds, attracting new business, encouraging growth and creating a community of choice. In the past year alone, Lewiston-Auburn has witnessed a resurgence of growth from small, medium and large companies including multiple grand-openings on both sides of the river. Business professionals and entrepreneurs from across the state and the nation showed their faith in the local economy by launching and expanding their businesses here.

L-A, the state’s second largest population center in the state, has transitioned from a traditional manufacturing and textile-based economy to a modern industrial economy in just the past three decades. Nowadays, high-end industries such as health care, high-precision manufacturing and financial services thrive and fuel the economic development within the Twin Cities.

L-A accomplished this upgrade by effectively leveraging its access to nearly half of Maine’s workforce within a 50-mile radius and its proximity to the Androscoggin River, two turnpike exits, growing municipal airport, and two railroads with international connections to deep sea ports. There are ample reasons to believe that the strategic location enjoyed by the Twin Cities will continue to benefit the economy for years to come.

Boasting a double-stack rail-to-truck intermodal facility located at a U.S. Customs port of entry, excluding oil deliveries and if measured by the sheer volume of cargo containers, the Port of Auburn, an inland facility, is busier than the Port of Portland and is Maine’s busiest port.  Some of the area’s major employers in transportation and logistics include Poland Spring, LePage Bakeries, VIP Parts and Service, Wal-Mart Distribution Center, Savage Safe Handling (which handles nearly 4,000 railcars and 12,000 truckloads of industrial raw materials per year), Estes Express, Fed-Ex, UPS, and Superior Carriers.

Making it easier for professionals to come and go as they please is critical to attracting them. The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport has completed the expansion and renovation of the terminal building in order to provide additional interior space for future passenger air service and a passenger waiting area. Along with room for security screening the project doubled the size of the facility to 7,000 square feet, including updated office and meeting room space for airport staff and an expanding restaurant.

In fact, the airport celebrated the grand opening of their renovated restaurant in April. Located at 80 Airport Drive in Auburn, The Landing Strip Cafe features home cooked food and fresh baked goods with some of the best views and story tellers around. Overlooking the 5,000 plus foot runway, The Landing Strip Cafe provides the opportunity for citizens, passengers and aviation enthusiasts to enjoy quality food for breakfast and lunch as well as providing services to handle the approximately 68,000 aircraft operations that occur at the airport every year.

In 2010, Congressman Michael Michaud announced that federal funding had been approved to build a new Veterans Administration clinic in Lewiston. Located at 15 Challenger Drive off the Alfred A. Plourde Parkway, the $20 million, 29,000 square-feet community-based outpatient clinic for military veterans is now open and offers a variety of health care services. Once at full staff, the clinic will employ 30 to 40 professionals and serve at least 5,000 veterans.

L-A’s health care industry is the largest in the area, as more people in L/A are employed in health care related work than any other profession. This January, Bedard injected new vitality to the health care industry by expanding their operations into Auburn. The 60,000 square-foot, $4.3 million facility now houses the corporate offices, Bedard Senior Care, Bedard Medical, a new pharmacy and employs approximately 45 to 50 employees. A true local success story, Bedard continues to be family owned and operated.

Foreign-Trade Zone #263 continues to attract nation-wide attention. Currently encompassing 760 acres in Auburn, the FTZ benefits qualifying companies that conduct international trade by eliminating, reducing, or deferring the payment of tariffs or duties on products or raw materials. Administered by the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council, Foreign-Trade Zone services are available to companies within a 60 mile radius or 90 minute drive of the site. 

Home to numerous clients like Bisson Transportation and NEPW Logistics, a fully-integrated warehousing and transportation service provider, the Auburn Industrial Park has strategically been located within this zone. Recently, the federal Economic Development Administration awarded a $1.7 million matching grant to the City of Auburn and the Auburn Business Development Corporation (ABDC) to help pay for the construction of the access road and associated utility work in order to develop the roughly 100 acre park.

New investment continues to funnel into the downtowns on both sides of the river. Recently, both main arteries in the downtowns have seen a resurgence of new businesses taking advantage of store front property and high visibility zones. Lisbon Street in particular has seen a remarkable renaissance. In just the last year alone, over seven new businesses have moved into the downtown area from the Southern Gateway to Main Street.

Kimball Street Studios, a specialty frame and museum preparation facility, celebrated their grand opening in February. With three full time employees, the studio also provides another art gallery to the downtown. Originally located in Richmond, the owners of Kimball Street Studios made the decision to relocate their business to the downtown due to the steady recovery of the arts scene.

Along with Lewiston Auburn Magazine, Captive Elements Art House moved in to their new location within the renovated and historic Le Messager building at 223 Lisbon Street. Contributing to the arts scene in Lewiston-Auburn and beyond, the new space contains an art gallery and meeting space that has consistently been utilized as a gathering place for downtown events including the Lewiston Auburn Art Walk, Festival of Arts and Lights and more. 

Forage Market, a grocery store, cafe and bakery featuring local fresh produce and meals, opened on lower Lisbon Street this April after over a year in the making. After an extensive renovation, the owners were able to open up the space using salvaged wood while preserving many of the architectural elements. Their bagels, breads, sandwiches and soups are already winning a loyal following and the business is another positive step in the redevelopment of Lisbon Street.

Healy Terrace, a new affordable housing complex for Maine senior citizens that once housed a boy’s orphanage experienced a nearly $8 million renovation in February. Turning the 100 year-old Healy Asylum into 32 affordable units for Maine’s elderly, the renovated building is a welcomed addition right in the heart of Lewiston. 

With revitalization occurring on Lisbon Street, new opportunities are presenting themselves in different fashions. Rainbow Bicycle & Fitness, which was originally located on Center Street in Auburn, could not resist the temptation of an untapped market offered by Lisbon Street and is currently in the process of renovating their storefront at 95 Lisbon Street. The venue will feature a café, offer approximately 50 percent more space than the old building, and the owner expects to hire three additional staff for the new location.

Community Concepts moved into their new building late last year. Located at 240 Bates Street, Community Concepts began renovating the former St. Dominic’s Regional High School building in 2007. Today, the building consists of a 30-unit senior housing development as well as an 18,000 square-foot office building containing the organization’s corporate offices.

Across from the Sarah Jeanne’s Family Hair Care Tanning and Day Spa in Lewiston, S&J Tuxedo and Limo Rentals celebrated their grand opening in December. With four new jobs created to staff the tuxedo and limo rental store, the Sarah Jeanne’s family of businesses continues to expand in Lewiston.

Quiet and abandoned for nearly 36 years, restoration of the historic Grand Trunk Depot began in early September and is awaiting fit-up by a potential client. Built in 1874 and listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings, the Depot is in the midst of a nearly $370,000 renovation funded in part by the Lewiston and Auburn Railroad Company, a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant, the City of Lewiston’s Community Development Block Grant program, and private funding.

But not all investment happens in the downtown or from within. Located at 802 Sabattus Street in Lewiston, Lisbon Community Federal Credit Union celebrated the grand opening of their Lewiston branch in December, their first within the Twin Cities. Providing new jobs and new financial opportunities, the branch will anchor the banks investment into the community.

Last year we reported that local entrepreneur and owner of Baxter Brewing Company, Luke Livingston, was in the process of doubling their previous production. With the new equipment, the brewery has increased their monthly production from about 300 barrels to nearly 6,000 barrels in the $1.4 million, 5,000 square-foot facility. Recently, Baxter Brewing announced their fourth beer to the lineup – Celsius Summer Ale.

With a staff of 15, Sea 40 opened their doors in February at the Lewiston Mall. Serving lunch and dinner seven days a week, the Japanese restaurant features a culinary mix of hibachi and sushi specialties. After a nearly six month renovation, the new restaurant has routinely featured packed crowds.

Additionally, smaller businesses have made sprouted up. EllieAnna Purse Company opened up their retail store and boutique at 866 Main Street in Lewiston. Showcased at the 32nd Annual News & Documentary Emmy’s in New York, EllieAnna Purse Company has been flooded with new orders and continues to sell her products worldwide.

Also on Main Street, Moody’s Collision Center celebrated their grand opening in early December. A Maine business since 1977, the company expects to create 16 to 18 new jobs.

Located at 990 Lisbon Street, a new gas station and convenience store called the South Avenue & Lisbon Street Variety has broken ground. The project consists of rehabbing the former Getty Quick-Mart.

In perhaps the largest job creation move, Carbonite moved their customer support division from India to Lewiston. Specializing in online data backup, representatives recently reported over 180 people had been hired full time with expectations to reach 250 by the end of 2012. With wages, including benefits, starting at $35,000, Carbonite has been a welcomed addition to L/A.

The widely anticipated Lincoln Street Hotel is moving forward as civil design work is nearing completion for this four-story 90 room business class hotel in the heart of downtown Lewiston. With meeting room space for up to 70 people, total investment is expected to be approximately $9.9 million with construction anticipated to begin in late 2012.

Museum L-A continues to move forward as well with the renovation and rehab of the former Camden Yarns Mill Building located at 1 Beech Street. Consisting of the rehabilitation of 50,000± square feet during Phase 1, remediation and demolition work is currently under way.

Speaking of mills, more than 80 workers a day are in the process of framing, installing and hanging drywall in this 48 unit mixed income housing project at Bates Mill Building No. 2 at a cost of $9.8 million. Started this spring, the project should be completed by next fall with a grand opening scheduled for November of 2013.

Meanwhile the Riverfront Island Master Plan continues to gain traction. Consultants from Goody Clancy are putting their finishing touches on the proposal. With considerable public feedback and participation, the Master Plan documents will be presented and incorporated as part of the City of Lewiston’s Comprehensive Plan before the end of the summer.

Restaurants continue to open their doors in the Twin Cities. In fact, L/A has seen a boon of new establishments offering high end culinary choices from around the world.

Located at 84 Court Street in downtown Auburn, 84 Court Pizza and Restaurante celebrated their grand opening in February. Featuring artisan pizzas, craft beers, appetizers and a wide selection of lunch and dinner options, the pizzeria and restaurant has already added seven new jobs to the community.

Narals Experience Arabia opened up their new restaurant on the corner of Main and Court Street in downtown Auburn by celebrating their grand opening in February as well. Having already hired 17 employees, the 4,800 square-foot venue adds to the culinary diversity of L-A by serving a multitude of cuisines including Greek, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Vegetarian and American fares.

The Fire House Grille continues to impress and grow. Located at the former site of Andy’s Baked Beans, the grille serves lunch and dinner and can accommodate up to 50 people with additional seating at the bar. Already at 20 employees, the Fire House Grille serves comfort foods and drink specials at a reasonable price.

Located at the Auburn Mall, national chain Panera Bread will soon break ground on a roughly 4,000 square foot building with drive-thru access as well. Named to BusinessWeek’s 2010 list of top 25 “Customer Service Champs,” to FORTUNE magazine’s 2010 list of 100 Fastest-Growing Companies, Panera Bread was also named Casual Dining Brand of the Year in the 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend. The project is projected to open in late fall of 2012.

New faces at the Auburn Mall will also include Aspen Dental. The project will consist of a 7,000 square foot building where Aspen Dental will occupy a portion of the building and a yet-to-be-announced national retailer will occupy the remainder of the available space.

In addition to restaurants, Auburn will also welcome a new hotel. The new project consists of an 85 room hotel with common space bearing The Best Western Plus Hotel name. With the potential of a restaurant or pub attached to the building, the second phase could include additional hotel rooms and a potential convention or meeting space further down the line.

Auburn has also seen expansion from existing companies. After serving customers for 14 years at the 120 Center Street plaza, Goldworks Fine Jewelry recently moved into their new location at 33 Center Street in Auburn. A family owned business committed to serving the community, providing excellent customer service and expertise in the selection of quality fine jewelry and jewelry repairs, Goldworks showcases a friendly atmosphere and prides itself in making every customer feel valued and cared for. 

Central Maine Credit Union will soon break ground on their new 4,000± square foot facility located at 836 Center Street in Auburn. Organized in 1950 in Lewiston, Central Maine Credit Union prides itself on providing quality financial services to their members with their 5 star rating, signifying their credibility as one of the strongest credit unions in the nation.

Auburn has also seen an influx of businesses relocating in from away. Maine Source Homes and Maine Source Realty moved into their new location at 314 Center Street from the town of Poland with the former 1860’s farm house having been converted into their new base of operations. Serving as a one-stop-shop providing new modular homes, manufactured homes, a real estate office with listing and buyer services, turn-key packages, land development and more, their nine full time and 25 sub contractor employees are a welcomed addition to the community.

In early November, Lumber Liquidators opened their first location in the Twin Cities at the Auburn Plaza. With two employees, the former space has been renovated into a showroom and warehouse showcasing various lumber specials.

Last year we reported on the first ever Launch L-A contest. Drawing media interest and applications from across the country, the contest was geared toward native L-A residents under the age of 30 and living outside of the Twin Cities, but who wanted to move back to L-A and open up their businesses. With nearly $100,000 worth of in-kind donations including cash, advertising and legal services, approximately 2,000 votes were cast and the winner was decided by less than one half of one percent.  Revelation Massage, located at 600 Turner Street, recently expanded their staff to 14 employees in order to handle the workload.

The prosperity and growth of L-A are visible and real, and will be sustained and accelerated by the continuous influx of investment in various amounts to different industries.

The pillar industries will maintain the high production and employment level of L-A, and the economic diversity of L-A will help cushion the Twin Cities against the sharp blow of the economic recession. With more than two centuries of history of various economic development under its belt, the Twin Cities continues to go through an economic renaissance. The progress L-A made in 2011-2012 proved again: That in L-A, it is happening here.