Courtesy / Heart of Biddeford
Delilah Poupore, executive director, Heart of Biddeford
May 17, 2022
Heart of Biddeford wins national award for city revitalization efforts
Courtesy / City of Biddeford
Biddeford was noted for its vibrant downtown, inclusivity and revitalization efforts.
By Jessica Hall
The accolades keep pouring in for Biddeford.
This week Heart of Biddeford, a nonprofit that works to promote economic development and improves the downtown quality of life, won a national award that recognizes communities for their commercial district revitalization.
The Great American Main Street Award winners are selected from a nationwide pool of applicants by a jury of leaders in the fields of community and economic development and historic preservation.
The award marks the latest positive buzz for the city, which once boasted the nickname “Trashtown” because of its large incinerator.
Conde Nast Traveler recently wrote a glowing review of the city, while Food & Wine magazine cited Biddeford as one of four small cities in U.S. with “impressive food scenes worth checking out.”
Heart of Biddeford was recognized for its small business environment and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
“Biddeford proves that equity and inclusion are the future of the Main Street movement,” said Main Street America president and CEO Patrice Frey. “Their work with Black-owned businesses, formerly-incarcerated people, English language learners, and other groups has enriched the culture of the district and brought lasting economic change.”
“This is a huge honor for Heart of Biddeford, and we accept this award on behalf of thousands of volunteers, our municipal, cultural and service partners, and the business community,” said Delilah Poupore, executive director at Heart of Biddeford. “While we hope to become more inclusive and sustainable over time, we are very proud of our efforts to innovate during challenging times and to work in a connected way toward a common vision.”
The Great American Main Street Award recognized the revitalization efforts of Biddeford from the closure of the incinerator in 2012 to the redevelopment of the historic mill district spaces into residential and commercial spaces. Today the district’s 4.5% commercial vacancy rate compared to a vacancy rate of 20.7% in 2006.
Heart of Biddeford’s commitment to inclusivity included partnering with veterans’ organizations to host parades downtown, hosting monthly meet-ups for female entrepreneurs, collaborating with Black Owned Maine to increase the organization’s capacity to incubate and promote Black-owned businesses in the district, and raising the inaugural Pride flag in the city.
Since the award’s inception in 1995, over 100 Main Street programs have been honored as Great American Main Street Award communities.
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