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Sponsored by: Searsport
July 24, 2019 2019 Fact Book: Doing Business in Maine

Searsport

Photo by Wayne Hamilton Searsport is an important maritime community that’s now charting a future in maritime education.
Photo by James Gillway Searsport supports and encourages business investment and growth with available land, a new Downtown Plan, and further forward-thinking plans for residential and business opportunity.

Proud of Our Maritime Heritage

Searsport is a coastal community on the western shore of Penobscot Bay between Belfast and Bangor.

Our 29-square-mile community is rich in maritime history, its contribution to the world’s shipping industries profound. With 2,533 residents in 1860, Searsport boasted eleven (11) shipyards that produced more than 200 ships of different rigs. Related industries included sailmakers, lumbering, blacksmiths, carpentry and production of barrel containers for ship cargoes. Searsport was home to more than one-tenth of the U.S. Merchant Marine’s deep-water captains.

Beyond its contribution to early marine industries, Searsport has produced more shipmasters than any other town of its size in the world, nearly 300 of whom became shipmasters by age 21.

Second Largest Seaport

Searsport is Maine’s second largest deepwater port. The port currently offers dry bulk pad storage, heated tank storage, railroad trans-loader, track-mobile, ship loader, mobile harbor crane, and crawler cranes. In addition, Central Maine and Quebec rail service connects to Canadian Pacific, Canadian National, Pan Am Southern and NBS Railways. The Port of Searsport is one of the most important ports on the East Coast.

As a result, the community is exploring the benefits of a Foreign Trade Zone status, in an effort to support the continued development to this regional, state and national asset.

Charting Future Revitalization and Development

Searsport is charting a course to renewed prosperity with economic development, opportunity in a revitalized historic downtown, and a concentration on business retention and business attraction.

Searsport recently adopted a Downtown Plan, which forms the basis for a future Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. Searsport’s Downtown TIF District coincides with the downtown revitalization upgrade slated for 2020/2021. The TIF District will provide Façade Improvement Grants, Low Interest Revolving Loan Funds, Signage Grants and other investment incentives to encourage full occupancy of downtown buildings.

In addition to revitalization construction and creation of a Downtown TIF District, Searsport has secured additional parking opportunity with the acquisition of vacant land adjacent to downtown. In collaboration with the Penobscot Marine Museum, the Town will create a parking lot designed to enhance downtown parking availability.

With available land and buildings along the very busy Route 1 corridor, Searsport is prime for business investment and development. Searsport will continue to strive to be a destination with shops, restaurants and abundant recreational offerings. The revitalization, combined with renewed advocacy for business development, will create a new look, new feel, and welcoming character.

Charting Future Maritime Education

Searsport is distinguished by a unique concept — the Maine Ocean School, a magnet high school for marine science, technology, transportation and engineering. The school opened in 2018 with an enrollment of 12 students. Enrollment is expected to reach 32 students this fall.

The school’s mission is to provide a theme-based high school education focused on Maine’s maritime connection, with an emphasis on leadership, work ethic and the transferable skills associated with careers involving the ocean. Careers such as Aquaculture and Aquarium Technician, Lab Assistant, Fisherman, Sternman, At-Sea or Shore-Based Engineer, Able-Bodied Seaman, Ship Builder, Marina Operator, and Port Communication are only a few of the potential opportunities.

Welcoming and Encouraging Business Investment and Growth

Downtown Searsport is comprised of historic brick buildings, each a potential storefront location for retail development, many with second-story residential opportunity. In addition, a middle-turn lane, just north of the village, will be constructed to facilitate business growth, thereby relieving costs typically paid by development. The regional “Head of the Bay Business Association” (HOBBA) is an active group of businesses owners working together to promote and market the region as a consumer/tourist destination.

Searsport is developing. We’re committed to using the tools and incentives necessary for business growth and attraction. Please direct inquiries or correspondence to Dean L. Bennett, Economic Development Director, 207-548-6372 or econdev50@gmail.com.

We welcome you aboard and look forward to facilitating your investment in the Town of Searsport.

Town of Searsport

1 Union Street, P.O. Box 499, Searsport, ME 04974

Municipal Government
Dean L. Bennett, Economic Development Director
Founded: 1845

searsport.maine.gov