As we look back and reflect upon the previous year, the cities of Lewiston and Auburn have seen an increasing number of investments and projects that are augmenting and redefining our community identity and skyscape. Bordered around our existing groundwork, the community has seen increased growth in downtown expansion while essential infrastructure projects, essential for a growing community, continue to materialize.

While many parts of America are still battling the ongoing economic crisis, Lewiston and Auburn, by many measures, continue to project a sign of resiliency, opportunity and growth. Whether it’s the amount of private capital invested, the number of affordable housing units built, the degree of federal commitment into our infrastructure, or the number of small businesses that have opened, the cities of Lewiston and Auburn continue to reinvent the definition of creating a community of choice.

In the past year alone, we have witnessed a resurgence of growth from small, medium and large businesses expanding their operations in the greater Lewiston and Auburn area. Attracting business professionals and entrepreneurs from across the nation, the local economy continues to grow with each new investment.

L-A, the state’s second-largest population center, 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 economic development initiatives within the Twin Cities.

Logistically, L-A accomplished this by effectively leveraging access to nearly half of Maine’s workforce within a 50-mile radius. With growing momentum centered around the Androscoggin River, two turnpike exits, a 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 local economy for years to come.

Making it easier for professionals to come and go as they please is critical to growing our population center. In December, the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport officially completed the expansion and renovation of a new terminal building in order to provide additional interior space for future passenger air service. The 7,000-square-foot modern terminal now supports the nearly 64,500 aircraft operations that occur at the airport every year, ranking the airport the third busiest publicly funded airport in the state within the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.

Serving as a premier aviation gateway to the cities of Auburn and Lewiston, airport officials view the airport as a gateway to communities throughout the state. Located just four miles southwest of the central business district of the cities of Auburn and Lewiston, the airport is surrounded by logistical resources including highway and rail modes of transportation, an intermodal transportation facility, a federally designated Foreign-Trade Zone, and the recently permitted second-phase expansion of the Auburn Industrial Park.

Phase II of the Auburn Industrial Park received final approval from the Army Corps of Engineers for the development of a new eight-lot subdivision on approximately 100 acres of industrial land adjacent to the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport. Once completed, the project, a joint venture between the city of Auburn and Auburn Business Development Corporation, is anticipated to capture up to $80 million in private investment, in excess of 200 jobs over the next 10 to 15 years, and could produce nearly $1 million per year in new property taxes for the city of Auburn.

Located within Foreign-Trade Zone #263, a Foreign-Trade Zone facilitates trade and increases the global competitiveness of United States-based companies. Created by the federal government in the 1930s, they are designed to level the global playing field as the Foreign-Trade Zone  is an area within the U.S. that the government considers outside U.S. Customs territory.

Companies that conduct manufacturing, assembly, fabrication and value-added activities within an FTZ are also eligible for additional benefits including inverted tariff savings, weekly Customs entry savings, duty deferral, duty elimination on waste and scrap, duty elimination on rejected or defective parts, duty elimination on re-exports and duty elimination on domestic content or value added including labor, overhead and profits.

Developers expect the value of the eight industrial lots to be further enhanced by additional economic incentives including the Pine Tree Development Zone designation, closeness to the Maine Turnpike, the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport, and adjacency to the intermodal facility serviced by existing rail opportunities provided by the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad.

Boasting a double-stack rail-to-truck intermodal facility located at a U.S. Customs port of entry, the Port of Auburn and Maine Intermodal Transportation Facility, an inland facility, is the second busiest port in the state of Maine.

In April of this year, the re-establishment of the Rangeley Branch Rail Line was approved and construction is already underway to open new economic development opportunities in the city of Auburn and town of Poland.

With the objective of providing an alternative rail line for the movement and delivery of freight to area businesses while alleviating congestion on the existing main rail line servicing the Maine Intermodal Transportation Facility, moving rail cars full of merchandise through the Auburn facility will become more efficient.

Providing direct rail access to approximately 400 acres of land in the city of Auburn and town of Poland while opening new economic development opportunities for business growth, the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council, the city of Auburn, representatives of the Lewiston and Auburn Railroad Company, and the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad Company, worked closely with members of the Lewiston-Auburn area delegation to secure $3.0 million in general obligation bond funds for the reconstruction of the former Rangeley Branch rail line running from Auburn to Poland.

The project consists of restoring approximately 6,600 linear feet of the former line between the Lewiston-Auburn Railroad at West Hardscrabble Road and the existing siding of the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad near Lewiston Junction Road; the construction of approximately 400 linear feet of new track for a spur line leading from the midpoint of the mainline to an abutting commercial property owned and operated by MB Bark, LLC; and the addition of 1,500 linear feet of double-ended siding ultimately adding capacity and reducing delays on the route caused by heavy usage of the Maine Intermodal Transportation Facility.

The project is expected to create new growth opportunities as much of the land surrounding the line is zoned for commercial and industrial development. Companies looking for vacant industrial land with rail access will have the ability to locate their facilities in this area and take advantage of rail-to-truck cross-loading opportunities, further enhancing the city of Auburn’s role as a major transportation hub in the state of Maine.

Businesses located around the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport continue to grow as well. Auburn Manufacturing, a leader in fire- and heat-resistant materials located in the Kittyhawk Industrial Park, recently broke ground on their 22,500-square-foot, $1.4-million expansion that will nearly double the size of their existing location.

Eastern Fire Protection, a 2013 city of Auburn Economic Achievement Award recipient, is expanding their facility by approximately 3,000 square feet.

Tambrands, employing between 400-450 workers, is in the midst of a $6.7-million, 74,00- square-foot expansion. Since purchasing the facility in 1997, Procter and Gamble has invested more than $350 million into the over 530,000-square-foot facility.

Dedicated to leadership and quality as a source of medium and heavy truck, trailer and transportation services, CB Kenworth opened a truck center at 499 Poland Road.

Bernard Art Gallery celebrated their grand opening at 2784 Turner Road in late July.

Not but a short drive from the airport, the Auburn Mall has seen an influx of new businesses and development.

Panara Bread recently opened a 4,000-square-foot building outside the Auburn Mall. Named to BusinessWeek‘s 2010 list of top 25 “Customer Service Champs” and FORTUNE magazine’s 2010 list of 100 Fastest-Growing Companies, Panera Bread has been named Casual Dining Brand of the Year in the 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend.

New faces at the Auburn Mall also include Aspen Dental in a recently completed 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.

Central Maine Slot Car opened inside the mall in late April with a four-lane track.

Construction is underway for the two-rink, $8.5-million Auburn Ice Arena situated adjacent to the mall and behind Shaw’s Plaza. The facility will feature eight locker rooms, two lockers for referees, a pro shop and a second-floor warm spectator area with a concessions stand. With seating for 811 spectators in the first rink, 200 in the second rink, and between 80 to 100 seats in a shared mezzanine, the ice arenas will provide an exciting boost to the area.

Shaw’s Plaza has seen two new investments over the last year. Locally owned and operated, the new 5,000-square-foot store Sears Hometown Store opened in March. The new store carries tools, lawn and garden equipment, appliances, mattresses and electronics.

With over 2,100 locations across the country, Supercuts, which never requires an appointment, moved into the former Hair by Gregory’s location at Shaw’s Plaza.

Center Street has continued to see an influx of new businesses as well. Hair by Gregory’s moved from their Shaw’s Plaza location and expanded into their new location at 392 Center Street.

Central Maine Credit Union has opened their new 4,000± square foot facility 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.

Situated among the retail stores along the busy Center Street commercial business corridor, KP’s Place, a family-friendly and casual dining restaurant located at the 245 Center Street Plaza, opened their 1,600-square-foot location, further adding to the growing Auburn and Lewiston restaurant scene. Capable of seating over 30 patrons, the restaurant specializes in fried fresh chicken and seafood.

Adjacent to KP’s Place, the Grow Depot, an indoor and outdoor garden supply retailer, also opened at the 245 Center Street Plaza location. Specializing in outdoor products with an emphasis on indoor gardening due to the shortened Maine growing season, the business focuses on the benefits of utilizing hydroponic gardens inside the home or greenhouse.

Bookkeeping Plus, an accounting and bookkeeping service, relocated to Auburn above Uncle Andy’s Digest at 9 Grove Street.

Tarbell and Brodich, P.A., located at 86 Main Street in downtown Auburn, celebrated their official grand opening in December having recently relocated their Maine office from Augusta to Auburn in order to better serve their clients throughout the state.

Essential to growing the creative economy, representatives from the Auburn Public Library officially welcomed cardholders and the public to experience the new, state-of-the-art digital media center, the first digital media lab to be located within a public library in New England, in early January.

Providing a hands-on learning experience utilizing the latest technological tools available, the aptly named Create! Media Lab is available for Auburn Public Library and Lewiston Public Library cardholders, and is equipped with three Apple Mac computers that feature the latest software programs.

Across the street, Dojo Digital moved into 158 Court Street. A website development and design business, Dojo Digital delivers cutting-edge website features and functionality.

Vision LLC opened their doors in early February. Providing solutions and strategies for a company’s or agency’s brand, print, promotional and Internet marketing needs, Vision LLC offers products and services including business forms, checks, labels, commercial printing, logo/graphics/branding, Web design and development, and Internet marketing services.

Located at 31 Court Street in Auburn’s downtown, Norway Savings Bank is in the midst of renovating the ground floor and opening their 22nd branch. Offering a drive-through feature, the full-service branch will have at least six employees.

Individual town houses have been built at 261 Main Street in Auburn’s downtown. Facing Academy Street and the Community Little Theatre, the medium-income development project continues to grow the appeal of urban living.

Additionally, work is underway at the intersection to create a single apartment building containing a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

The downtowns continue to be the focus of new businesses and entrepreneurs. Representing the face of the community, downtown Auburn and Lewiston have both seen increased investment.

Great Falls Property Management, a client-focused organization serving the needs of single-family, multi-family and commercial property owners and tenants in the greater Lewiston-Auburn area, opened at 134 Main Street next to Pedro O’Hara’s Restaurant.

Rainbow Bicycle and Fitness, an independent bicycle shop, officially celebrated the grand opening of their new store. A 2013 city of Lewiston Economic Achievement Award recipient, the 97 Lisbon Street location encompasses nearly 5,600 square-feet, enough to accommodate an extensive inventory of bicycle-related products, while another 5,600 square feet remains unused on the bottom floor on the back side of the building.

Also located within the same building at 97 Lisbon Street, the Local Grind Café features Maine-roasted coffee from Wicked Joe’s based out of Brunswick. In addition to coffee, espresso and lattes, the café sells bagels, scones, muffins wraps, soups and sandwiches.

After a year of renovations to a historic downtown building, Forage Market opened in spring 2012 at 180 Lisbon Street. Offering gourmet foodstuffs, fine meats, cheeses, rustic breads and bagels baked on premises in a custom, wood-fired brick oven, farm fresh produce and dairy offerings, fine coffees and espressos, wine, beer, a creative breakfast and lunch menu, and even grab-n-go dinners, Forage is a breath of fresh air, bringing new people and energy to Lisbon Street, and expanding new retail southward toward Pine Street, earning them a 2013 Economic Achievement Award from the city of Lewiston.

In addition to housing Forage Market, 180 Lisbon Street has become quite the gathering spot and incubator for other businesses. Chill Yoga, and Life Ideals Counseling are long-term tenants, but galleries and photographers have also gotten their starts on the upper floors. The most recent addition is Downtown Handmade and Vintage, a shop that offers antiques, vintage collectables, and custom-made, locally designed arts and crafts.

Contributing to the arts scene in Lewiston-Auburn and beyond, the renovated space at 223 Lisbon Street, occupied by Lewiston Auburn Magazine, contains a new art gallery called Prose Gallery.

In one of the splashier highlights of the year, Argo Marketing Group announced the $2.4-million renovation of the former McCrory’s department store at 64 Lisbon Street, which will result in 150 new positions at the 25,000-square-foot location, as well as a café and retail space for lease.

Located at 140 Canal Street Plaza in downtown Lewiston, Blush Beauty Boutique celebrated their official grand opening in September. The fully renovated boutique features an inviting 2,000-square-foot space that includes modern interior design elements that complement the custom-designed amenities located throughout the studio. New additions include the exposed Color Bar which provides guests an interesting new view on their total salon experience by showcasing a space where guests can view their personalized color being formulated. Another modern feature called the Tool Bar allows guests to experiment and handle the tools that professional stylists use to create their customized style.

Those searching for a medical care provider now have a convenient health care facility situated just off Kennedy Park in downtown Lewiston provided by Dr. Alice Haines. Located on the ground floor at 60 Pine Street, the 180-square-foot micro-practice provides comprehensive and affordable medical care services to patients and may be particularly attractive to those who have no insurance or who maintain a high deductible.

Those in need of dental care but unable to visit a dentist’s office will now have convenient access to a mobile dental hygiene service courtesy of Healthy Maine Smiles. Providing professional dental care for seniors, the disabled, and those with limited access to traditional dental options, the business will improve access to oral health opportunities for area residents by conveniently offering preventative oral health services in a familiar and safe environment of the customers’ choosing.

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

The Lofts at Bates Mill is a 48-unit, mixed-income housing project located in Bates Mill. The $9.8-million renovation is the first residential mill conversion in Lewiston, bringing urban, loft-style apartments to the city. They were well received, with the first tenants welcomed in November. The Lofts was fully leased out by February, several months ahead of schedule.

Demand for market-rate, downtown living options continues to grow and be met. Eric Agren created three condominiums on the top two floors of 49 Lisbon Street, above Fuel Restaurant, with the top floor developed into a gracious 5,000-square-foot home. Two condos will be developed on the floor below.

In the building called The Newberry at 43 Lisbon Street, three market-rate apartments were developed and rented before they were completed.

After extensive exterior work cleaning and repointing brick and replacing windows, eight apartments are under construction in the historic McGillicuddy building, located at the corner of Lisbon and Ash streets, with tenancy expected by winter 2014.

At the Bates Mill, Baxter Brewing Company is gearing up to meet demand. They are engaged in a $2-million expansion designed to quadruple production. The expansion will allow them to produce during three shifts and grow their staff to 15. Having just shipped their first beer in 2011, with this expansion, Baxter Brewing Company will become the third-largest brewer in Maine.

TD Bank extended their lease in the Bates Mill complex to the year 2025, keeping 1,000 people working in the downtown.

Willis Insurance leased 10,000 square feet on the top floor of Bates Mill #2 Wing and Storehouse, transforming it into spectacular first-class office space.

One floor below, Maine Community Health Options, a new insurance company founded in response to the Affordable Care Act, is a nonprofit, consumer-operated-and-oriented plan, providing affordable health insurance for Maine people and businesses. They are gearing up with access to new forms of coverage and meaningful health insurance benefits. Open enrollment begins in October 2013 for a benefit program that starts in January 2014.

Having been in Lewiston for 110 years, Lepage Bakers renovated their Country Kitchen outlet on Cedar Street.

But not all investment happens in the downtown. Offering free, in-home assessment to better understand the needs of clients, MAS Home Care of Maine has opened a branch at 1180 Lisbon Street.

Busytown Bikes opened at 996 Sabattus Street in mid March. Carrying a full range of bicycles and offering a full range of bicycle repairs, the location brings additional retail opportunities to the area.

Sports Trader expanded their sporting goods store at 707 Main Street to accommodate additional room dedicated to bicycles as well.

Central Maine Power Company has invested more than $70 million at the Larrabee Substation, which serves as one of the key components of the $1.4-billion Maine Power Reliability Program upgrade to Maine’s electrical infrastructure. Larrabee increases the capacity, safety and redundancy of the system in Lewiston, Auburn and broader region.

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-foot, 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.

Carbonite continues to grow, leasing more square footage at the Raceway Business Park and employing more than 200 people.

Casella will open a 15,000-square-foot, automated recycling center, providing 25 new jobs to the community.

Located at 990 Lisbon Street, a new gas station and convenience store called the South Avenue and Lisbon Street Variety has opened.

J and S Oil opened their new Xpress Stop at 1103 Lisbon Street. The facility also includes an Amato’s express and automatic car wash.

The Ark, located at 791 Lisbon Street, seeks to serve the Lewiston community through programs that educate, motivate, appreciate and empower others to live life at its best. Owners expect to have a vegan restaurant up and running soon as well.

Looking to the future, Lewiston will host the NCAA Division III Men’s Ice Hockey National Championship Tournament in March 2014. Expected to generate over $1 million for the community, plans are underway to maximize the experience.

The long-anticipated Hampton Inn to be built at the corner of Lincoln and Main streets will break ground this summer. This four-story, 90-room business class hotel in the heart of downtown Lewiston will have meeting room space for up to 70 people and a total investment expected around $9.9 million.

Meanwhile, the Riverfront Island Master Plan continues to gain traction. Consultants from Goody Clancy have put their finishing touches on the proposal. With considerable public feedback and participation, the Master Plan documents won the 2012 American Planning Association Northern New England Chapter “Plan of the Year” award. The documents have subsequently been incorporated as part of the city of Lewiston’s Comprehensive Plan, and the plan has generated interest in the development and real estate community.

Restaurants continue to open their doors in the Twin Cities. In fact, the future home of Orchid Restaurant is currently under renovation at 29 Lisbon Street.

The prosperity and growth of L-A is 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 continued turbulence of a national economy. With more than two centuries of history of various economic development initiatives under its belt, the Twin Cities continue to go through an economic renaissance.

Certified from the Maine State Department of Economic and Community Development agency as Business-Friendly communities, there is certainly much to be optimistic about in the cities of Lewiston and Auburn. The progress L-A made over the last year has proved again that in L-A, it is happening here!