Welcome to the Heart of Biddeford, a Main Street Maine community! If you’re considering moving here, or already have discovered Biddeford and want to get involved or find out what’s going on…you’ve come to the right place. The Heart of Biddeford is a volunteer-driven, active organization that is working to improve our downtown. Come to one of our events and meet some of the great people who are involved!

To learn more about us, watch this HoB Presentation!

Office Hours

Our executive director is Delilah Poupore and our office manager is Ashley Potvin. The office is staffed daily from 10:00am-2:00pm, plus other hours as meetings are arranged. Stop in, say hello and get involved!

Community Events:

Heart of Biddeford hosts events (large and small) each month. Read about Heart of Biddeford’s Events, and also check out the Business Enhancement Committee page and Design Committee page for other programs or projects.

Sign ups are available on-line now for team registration for “So You Think You Know Biddeford,” which will be held Saturday, June 9 at City Theater. Go to the Heart of Biddeford Events page to register now, or buy tickets to be in the audience!

For an extensive listing of cultural and community events, check out this Community Calendar.

Dine Internationally!

Discover one of Biddeford’s greatest assets: restaurants that bring the culture, tastes and aromas from countries around the world. Find out more about Biddeford’s Restaurants as well as other fine establishments in our downtown!

Main Street Challenge

On March 30, Heart of Biddeford received 27 business pitches from entrepreneurs interested in setting up business in Biddeford! Our team of judges chose 10 semi-finalists, who were invited to submit full business plans by May 4. From that group, five have been chosen to be interviewed in person on May 24. Check back here regularly to watch progress, and find out which 3 businesses will receive the extensive incentive package to start their business in Biddeford! Click on this link to the Business Enhancement Committee page for all the details!

RiverWalk Update

Public Meeting To Discuss the Future Replacement of a Steampipe Utility Structure with a Pedestrian Bridge over the Saco River. Following that presentation, a hearing about Biddeford and Saco’s Wayfinding Signage project. Thursday, May 3, 2012, 6:00p.m. at the Saco Train Station (138 Main Street on Factory Island).
Please join the City of Biddeford, City of Saco, and the RiverWalk Coalition at a formal public meeting to discuss the future replacement of an existing steampipe utility structure with a pedestrian bridge over the Saco River, connecting Biddeford’s Mill District with Saco Island. Representatives of both cities as well as Wright-Pierce Consulting Engineers (the design engineers for the project) will be present to listen to concerns and receive comments from anyone with an interest in the project. Any inquiries regarding this project may be directed to either Greg Tansley, Biddeford City Planner (207) 284-9115, or Alix Hopkins, RiverWalk Coalition Director (207) 688-2242.

Read more here about the latest update on Biddeford’s RiverWalk!

Adopt-a-Park

In a collaboration between the City of Biddeford and HoB, 14 community groups and businesses are signing up to look after our City Parks. The “Monitor Group” has assigned tasks in all 14 parks that will receive weeding, pruning, trash pick-up, and graffiti-reporting from local folks who care. The Public Works Department will continue monitoring the parks and do all of the professional-level work (weed abatement, mowing, etc…) This program stands on the shoulders of all the work our City employees and CDBG coordinator have done for years! Click to the Design Committee page to read all about our collaboration with Biddeford’s Department of Public Works, and let us know if you’d like to take on a park or street clean-up!

Master Plan Report Completed!

The HeartWorks Master Plan Advisory Council presented the final draft of the Downtown Master Plan in June 2011.  The Master Plan is a joint project of the City of Biddeford, the Heart of Biddeford, and the Orton Family Foundation.  The HeartWorks Advisory Council was comprised of community members, City officials, and representatives from the Heart of Biddeford. We had a chance to celebrate all the work that went into the plan and kick-off the implementation process. For background on the Master Planning Project which started in 2008, and to view a copy of the Complete Report, please visit our HeartWorks Master Plan Activities page.

Buy Local all year ’round…invest in your community.

When you spend your dollars locally, at locally-owned businesses, you are supporting your neighbors who can then support other local businesses and create a healthy local economy. Buying at locally-owned businesses, especially in your downtowns, offers a social experience that you don’t get at corporate stores…you see friends, you make friends, you get to experience the ambience and culture of that particular downtown. It’s about the experience as much as it is about keeping dollars local. Consider finding local sources for your everyday needs!

Find out more about the Biddeford-Saco Buy Local program. Your business can become a part of the program by signing up here.

City Announcements:

No announcements at this time.

Thank you for visiting the Heart of Biddeford online! We hope to see you soon at one of our events. And, we’re always looking for volunteers who enjoy crafting the future of Biddeford. Email us or call us at 284-8520 if you want to get involved. See you soon!