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Sponsored by: Town of Kennebunk
Updated: August 1, 2022 2022 Fact Book: Doing Business in Maine

Town of Kennebunk

PHOTO by Tina Radel Visitors stroll down Main Street in Downtown Kennebunk.

Work. Life. Balance.

Home to three villages, several beaches and a thriving shopping and dining scene, Kennebunk is a charming place to live, work and launch a business. The entrepreneurial spirit thrives here, with businesspeople coming to town to follow their aspirations—just like when Tom and Kate Chappell founded Tom’s of Maine in the 1970s and began operations in a small warehouse on Main Street. Tom’s of Maine is now a leading manufacturer of natural toothpaste and personal care products. To this day, Kennebunk continues to be a place where entrepreneurial vision is transformed into success.

Many local businesses are owned by residents who were drawn here for its small-town feel, natural beauty, historic charm and strong sense of community. This highly desirable area offers a superb quality of life with picturesque scenery, top-ranked schools and an abundance of recreational opportunities. Kennebunk is a place where many people find the coveted “work-life balance” they are seeking.

Bustling business centers

Originally a shipbuilding and agricultural center, today the burgeoning business sector features a variety of industries: health care, finance, manufacturing, technology, tourism, hospitality, retail, the arts and more. In fact, manufacturing occupies 10 percent of all commercial space, with Corning Life Sciences, the largest. Just off U.S. Route 1 is the Livewell Campus, a modern medical park that is home to a variety of health care providers. And recently, New England Cancer Specialists, the first Affiliate Member of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, opened in West Kennebunk.

Moreover, Kennebunk is well-known for its financial sector, with numerous banks, credit unions, investment firms and financial advisors located here. In addition, a recent community survey revealed that residents and visitors rely heavily on Kennebunk’s strong service industry. And the Home Improvement Mile on U.S. Route 1, south of Downtown Kennebunk, is a regional destination for residential home improvement businesses.

PHOTO by Tina Radel
Aerial view of the Kennebunk River, Lower Village, Kennebunk

Hospitality’s here, year-round

Tourism is another major economic driver. The area attracts tens of thousands of tourists throughout the year, from an influx of visitors and seasonal residents in the summer, to leaf-peepers arriving in droves on motorcoaches and cruise buses during September and October. It’s estimated that over 30,000 people visit the Kennebunks just in the fall alone! During the winter season, the annual Christmas Prelude, centered in Kennebunkport, includes Kennebunk’s Lower Village, pulling in thousands of tourists who delight in the quintessential New England Christmas scene. To accommodate visitors, Kennebunk offers several inns and hotels. And our dining scene showcases wonderful choices, from the 5-star White Barn Inn to the famous Clam Shack on the Kennebunk River. The town also has its share of breweries, cafés, bakeries, boutique shops and art galleries.

Beautification efforts in Downtown Kennebunk draw in many visitors, who according to the Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel Chamber of Commerce, frequently come to shop along Main Street while enjoying the gorgeous flower gardens that line the street.

The Waterhouse Center in Downtown Kennebunk is another focal point. In the winter, the covered ice rink attracts skaters from near and far. The venue is also used year-round for pickleball, concerts, performances, and recreational programming. On Saturdays throughout the summer, crafters sell their wares at its Artisans Marketplace, and freshly grown produce is available at the Farmer’s Market just across the street.

Recreational activities abound, with easy access to our two rivers, ocean, trails and conservation land attracting cyclists, surfers, boaters, paddlers and hikers. Recent federal funding is fueling an expansion of the Eastern Trail south between Kennebunk and North Berwick. An estimated 250,000 people use the trail annually, which has a positive economic impact on the area’s lodging, restaurants and shops.

Kennebunk has an eye toward the future and has recently joined a cohort to support local climate action, clean energy and energy efficiency projects. The Town is also working on a plan to enhance wireless access and connectivity.

Discover the appeal of being a business owner in Kennebunk. Visit www.kennebunkmaine.us or email EconomicDev@kennebunkmaine.us to learn more.

Town of Kennebunk

1 Summer St., Kennebunk, ME 04043

Stephen Houdlette, Director of Economic Vitality
(207) 604-1349
EconomicDev@kennebunkmaine.us

www.kennebunkmaine.us