Maine’s rural communities are defined by local heritage and spirit, and impacted, for better or worse, by the intersections of Federal, state, local policies and investments. This Summit will delve into how Maine’s rural communities can navigate the complex interplay of federal, state, and local policies and investments to build resilient and prosperous futures, while preserving their distinct sense of place.

Join us in Waterville, our host community for the third year in a row. The Summit will be held at the beautiful Waterville Opera House and in the adjacent Paul J. Schupf Art Center.

The day will feature a National keynote speaker, Tony Pipa, who launched and leads the Reimagining Rural Policy initiative at the Brookings Institution and our State keynote speakers, Sarah Craighead-Dedmon, Town Manager in Machias and Bonita Thompkins, CEO of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. Community Spotlights will follow, highlighting local stories that demonstrate the wide range of creative and effective approaches employed by rural Mainers to build strong and resilient communities .

Maine Smart Growth Awards video, GrowSmart Annual Meeting, and City Experience Tours, including the screening of Josh Gerritsen’s “The Comeback Mill”, round out the program before a Networking Reception.