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December 16, 2008

Meet Portland's new economic development director

Photo/Courtesy Eaton Peabody Greg Mitchell, Portland's economic development director, says the city may need to revisit the way it handles Community Development Block Grants
By Carol Coultas

Greg Mitchell loves to drive success.

The 150 miles to Skinner Township from his Yarmouth home ... not so much.

"I put 40,000 miles on my car last year," said Mitchell, who, as a consultant with Eaton Peabody Consulting Group was involved in development projects from Aroostook to York counties, including the TransCanada wind farm project on Skinner Township's Kibby Mountain.

Starting Dec. 29, his commute will be a nice 15 minutes, straight down I-295. Mitchell is the new economic development director for the city of Portland, a position he held in Brunswick and Lewiston before making the transition to the private sector in 2006.

"I had a great experience doing private sector work with Eaton Peabody, but our success meant I was driving statewide," said Mitchell. "It meant long days and a lot of time away from my family. Plus, I was missing the public sector ... the team approach of working in one community and the camaraderie that develops."

Mitchell will be calling the development shots from Portland City Hall where the economic development director position recently was elevated from the Planning and Development Department to the City Manager's Office.

"It was a mid-level position and now the profile has been raised," said Mitchell, who spoke at length with city officials about the direction and focus of his new job. "I'm going to be more pro-active in retaining and expanding existing businesses, as well as attracting new business ventures."

Nicole Clegg, the city's director of communications, says it's been almost two years since the city's last economic development director, Jack Lufkin, vacated the position. After the city began reorganizing city departments because of budget issues, Clegg says it made sense to elevate the economic development position to the city manager's office. "Doing that, it elevates it in stature within the city. I think there's value in having an economic development director [with the] authority to speak for the city manager," Clegg says. "I think that sends an important message."

Mitchell expects the Maine State Pier and Bayside redevelopment projects will be priorities once he starts. He also intends to reach out to many of Portland's suburbs on regional economic development projects, a direction that works with a Greater Portland Chamber of Commerce initiative.

Mitchell's collaboration muscles are well defined. While with Eaton Peabody, Mitchell helped craft the Brunswick Naval Air Station Base Reuse Master Plan and earlier in his career, worked with the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments.

From there, he became the economic development chief for the city of Lewiston, orchestrating the arrival of the Wal-Mart Distribution Center, which brought more than 600 jobs to the area. He also helped revitalize the city's downtown, initiating gateway projects and the rebirth of Bates Mill. In his nearly eight years with the city, he helped usher in $300 million in new development.

Mitchell said he's not worried about stepping into a development role in the midst of a recession. Portland is an attractive city with many amenities. Insightful developers will realize this is an opportunity, he said.

"With the market at a lower point, it creates an opportunity for developers to save themselves some money from an acquisition and construction perspective," he said.

Having a greater understanding about development financing is one of the assets he brings from his time with Eaton Peabody.

"I learned more about private sector financing needs," said Mitchell, noting his experience with Auburn developer George Schott and his Marriott Residence Inn project. "I worked more closely with financial institutions and the developer's project budgets. Now I have a greater appreciation of the challenges the private sector needs to overcome in order to secure financing, and how to marry those up with public sector programs."

One way to help Portland area development succeed is by streamlining the permitting and planning process, said Mitchell. While in Lewiston, he and other city officials worked out a system where the city development review process was usually completed a month after applications were submitted.

"That will be an area of emphasis to focus on, but I need to know more of the specifics (of how Portland operates)," he said. "We'll look for ways to streamline and simplify and set forth a predictable timeframe for development."

Mitchell envisions his new role as the point person for development.

"Just having a point person in charge who can carry a project to the end - from planning and permitting to the certificate of occupancy - is important for development," he said. "I hope to play a similar role in Portland to what I did in Lewiston."

And be home in time for dinner most nights. With one son in college, the time he and his wife have with their other son - an eighth-grader - is precious.

"It's all about family - that's No. 1."

Carol Coultas, Mainebiz editor, can be reached at ccoultas@mainebiz.biz.

 

Reader comments

From Fred

Congratulations to Greg Mitchell!!
It was a pleasure to work with Greg on our recent venture of awarding a TIF to Trans Canada for the establishment of a wind farm in the Kibby Mountain region of Franklin. Greg was all important in leading us every step of the way through a very detailed taxation puzzle. My only concern is that we won't have Greg to lean on as we continue on.
Our loss is Portland's gain. What a great boost to the City of Portland.
I wish Greg well in all his efforts.
Fred W. Hardy
Franklin County Commissioner
New Sharon, ME

From Tom

Congratulations Greg! They could not have found a better person to lead the economic development of the City of Portland. I am so happy to get Maine Biz down here in Boston so I can still get these kinds of updates from back home in Maine.

Tom Broussard, former ED, BBTEDC in Brunswick, ME, B.G. (Before Greg!)
Happy Holidays!

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