Deb Neuman, president and CEO of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, is bullish on the Bangor region.
Deb Neuman is president and CEO of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce FILE PHOTO
She cites the recent completion of a $45 million runway rehabilitation project at Bangor International Airport, construction on the new 82,000-square-foot Bangor Y and upgrades in the sound system at the Penobscot Theatre.
“The 2026 outlook for the Bangor region can be summed up in one word: Investment,” Neuman says. “Investments that will continue to improve the region’s infrastructure, quality of life and grow the economy.”
What's happening
The airport upgrades include a redesign of the security checkpoint area and addition of passenger amenities in the gate area.
The downtown Bangor Y will include two pools, a gym, indoor track and fitness center.
The Penobscot Theatre Co.’s upgrade of the sound system was accomplished with a hometown grant from T-Mobile. “The end result will mean better audio quality, especially for hard of hearing patrons,” Neuman says.
Updates are also in the works on the I-95 Broadway bridge and at Pickering Square, where new construction and landscaping “will create a destination location for locals and visitors alike,” she says.
The need for housing is still pressing, but two major developments are underway that will offer 74 units to middle-income residents and 50 units for senior living. “Other investments are happening throughout the Bangor region including new businesses investing in the region and existing businesses investing in growth,” Neuman says.
