Heart of Biddeford

Mission Statement
The Heart of Biddeford in partnership with the City of Biddeford, the business community, property owners, and residents, fosters economic development and improves the downtown and quality of life within its boundaries by supporting existing businesses, attracting new businesses, promoting the downtown through events and working to beautify the urban core.

We are a volunteer driven organization with one paid executive director. The Heart of Biddeford works tirelessly to improve Downtown Biddeford. Among so many others, we work with the City's various departments and the Council, the Downtown Development Commission, the City Theater, the Community Bicycle Center, Community for Children and Youth, the Public Library, Public Access TV, all of the downtown businesses, and all of Biddeford's amazing community volunteers.

OUR COMMITTEES:

Design Committee
Organization Committee
Promotions Committee
Economic Restructuring Committee

Thank you Rachael for your many years of hard work! Rachael Weyand did an amazing job as Heart of Biddeford's Executive Director and we wish her the best of luck in all of her pursuits!

Our Executive Director
Ezekiel Callanan, a Camden native and graduate of University of Maine School of Law, took over for Rachael Weyand on November 30, 2009, who left Callanan with some mighty big shoes to fill. Callanan completed his undergraduate degree at University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT, where he majored in psychology and minored in anthropology. In law school, Callanan focused on intellectual property law and business planning.

Callanan is excited to bring his experiences with founding and building Maine Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (www.mainevla.org)--where he was awarded "Volunteer of the Year 2009" by The League of Young Voters--to the larger stage of Downtown Biddeford, Maine. He is a big picture thinker who focuses on progressive, positive planning. "I see the City of Biddeford as one boiling over with potential," says Callanan. "I believe that Biddeford is in a pivotal geographic position to be a leader in taking initiatives to develop its local commerce while being environmentally conscious."

The Heart of Biddeford is a Main Street Maine community. It seeks to present the downtown itself as a destination--rather than any one single business--creating a friendly, safe, clean environment for people to come and enjoy themselves. The Heart of Biddeford received its Main Street Maine designation in the summer of 2006, one of eight other Maine communities to receive such a coveted designation.

Callanan sees Downtown Biddeford as a perfect fit for the Main Street Maine program. He will continue Ms. Weyand's legacy by working hard to implement a proven system, and agrees with Weyand's words of support for the downtown area: “The mayor and city council are really supportive, the town is beautiful and in great shape and the Heart of Biddeford is well organized and funded. We have all the ingredients.”

Callanan welcomes anyone interested in the Heart of Biddeford to visit her at the HOB office (205 Main Street, Suite 103), located next to the City Theater.

Our Executive Board

Megan Rochelo President (Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition)

Chris Bailey Treasurer (Vice President, Biddeford Savings)

Renee O'neil Secretary (JPOS)

Our Board (In alphetical order)
Tammy Ackerman Design Committee Chair (North40Creative Communications Design)

Jon Berg Economic Restructuring Chair (Biddeford Saco Area Economic Development Corporation)

Alice Brooks (Alice Brooks Film)

John Bubier (City of Biddeford, City Manager)
David Flood (Developer)

Eileen Foley (Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine)

Vicki Lane Promotions Committee Chair (PhotoDoctor)

Charles Peterson (President, Biddeford Savings)

Michele Tanguay Organization Committee Chair (Bangor Savings Bank)

Collectively, the Board of Directors assumes legal and philosophical responsibility for Heart of Biddeford's program activities. The board is responsible for policy, planning, committee oversight, funding and financial management, advocacy, evaluation, and personnel. Ultimately, the board has the accountability for the results and effectiveness of the Heart of Biddeford.

The Heart of Biddeford bylaws allow for up to 15 board members. This allows the board to be small enough to achieve results, yet provides a good cross section of stakeholders. Board terms range from 1 to 3 years.

Committees: where the real work of Heart of Biddeford happens.
The four committees 1)Design 2) Organization 3) Economic Restructuring and 4) Promotion are made up of four to eight members and they attend two or more meetings a month. These committees develop and design projects and create work plans to implement each project. Each committee has a committee chair with the following role: manages the group processes of the committee; recruits committee members; delegates tasks to members in a way that produces a positive volunteer experience; ensures that all committee members participate in the work plan process; and represents the committee at board meetings.

Design: Enhances the physical appearance of the downtown by developing projects and programs that educate the public and facilitate improvements to public and private buildings, storefronts, signs, public spaces, landscaping, merchandising and displays.

Typical Responsibilities:

Facade Improvement Program
Merchandise Display and Design Workshops
Design of Public Spaces
Design Education
Technical Assistance

Organization: Builds consensus and cooperation among the many groups and individuals who have a role in the revitalization process. Volunteer recruitment & orientation and creating long-term sustainable funding for the program are also the responsibilities of this committee.

Typical Responsibilities:

Fundraising
Volunteer Recruitment
Committee Member Training
Public Relations for the Program
Membership

Economic Restructuring: Strengthens the district's existing businesses while diversifying its economic base with new business recruits and converting underutilized space to productive use.

Typical Responsibilities:

Marketing Research
Business Assistance
Incentive Packages
Business and Property Development
Business Recruitment

Promotion: Establishes retail sales events and festivals to create a positive image of downtown to rekindle community pride, attract investors, developers and new businesses.

Typical Responsibilities:

Marketing Strategy
Image Development
Retail Promotion
Special Events