As the city focuses on retaining businesses during the pandemic, there’s been no slow-down in active construction projects, he tells Mainebiz. The question is whether planned ones will move forward to shovels-in-the-ground.
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As the city of Portland pushes on during the coronavirus pandemic, Economic Development Director Greg Mitchell always gets the first glimpse of how the city responds.
Mitchell, who was hired in 2008, works closely with business people throughout the region. Mainebiz caught up with him to discuss the economic response to the pandemic.
Mainebiz: Do people seem to be going with smaller ventures?
Greg Mitchell: The focus during the pandemic has been on business retention. City Council approved a street closure plan to support outside retail and dining due to state social distancing requirements. The city issued 141 temporary permits to expand businesses outdoors.
MB: What changes have you seen in development plans since the pandemic started?
GM: There has not been any slow-down in active construction projects throughout the city. The city allowed for active construction projects to proceed provided safety protocols were in place.
There has been an increase in the number of requests to the city to financially support affordable and workforce housing projects. If all pending housing projects are approved, the number of affordable and workforce housing units total 471 new construction units plus 100 renovated units.
Also, the city is evaluating a change to the development program for one of the former city-owned Bayside properties, which was sold to Tom Watson to support upwards of an additional 171 market-rate and affordable rental housing units. This year and next we could see the number of housing units come closer to meeting demand.
MB: How have applications been affected by the pandemic?
GM: There is a high number of new projects under city development regulatory review during the pandemic. The real test will be if the pandemic will slow the number of projects which move forward to construction.
MB: What kinds of longer-term effects do you see from the pandemic?
GM: The Portland economy is very diversified because of our mix of manufacturing, health care, restaurants, hotels, retail, education institutions, financial and legal services. Future economic growth bright spots include the Roux Institute at Northeastern, which will support talent recruitment and workforce development.
There’s new office construction for WEX and Maine Medical Center and Mercy are undergoing major redevelopments. I do see some shifts occurring in retail and restaurants due to the loss of business during the pandemic.
MB: Is the city being asked to provide more incentives to developers and businesses?
GM: The City Council approved three new commercial loan and grant programs, which are administered under the Portland Development Corp., to support small to mid-size businesses during the pandemic. Portland Development Corp. approved 19 microenterprise grants ($2,500 each) and one COVID-19 BAP-Rehire grant ($5,000) for small businesses.
Staff is finalizing grant and loan documents for the four grants and one loan that were already approved by the Portland Development Corp. at its previous meeting. Among approved grantee businesses 28% are racially, ethnically or linguistically diverse.
