Maine Development Foundation

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Maine Development Foundation MDF is a non-partisan, statewide driver of equitable, sustainable economic growth.

We connect people, decision-makers, and communities though trusted research, leadership development, and creative partnerships to solve problems and improve lives.

Welcome to the MDF Family, ICL - Institute for Civic Leadership Haystack Class! We walk with you every step of this incr...
10/14/2026

Welcome to the MDF Family, ICL - Institute for Civic Leadership Haystack Class! We walk with you every step of this incredible leadership journey and are on belay for you now and always.

Yellow Light Breen Jan Kearce Julie Beane Rosie Vanadestine Hurricane Island Outward Bound School

Congratulations to the 5 communities who won grants through the Seafood Infrastructure Adaptation Fund (SIAF), part of t...
10/14/2026

Congratulations to the 5 communities who won grants through the Seafood Infrastructure Adaptation Fund (SIAF), part of the SEAMaine (Seafood Economic Accelerator) program.

The funds, totaling $1-m, will help improve public marine facilities, help strengthen Maine’s seafood sector, and provide greater resilience to climate-related shocks. Read the press release: https://www.mdf.org/news/sea-maine-awards-grants-totaling-1m-to-critical-marine-community-infrastructure-projects/?&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=sea&utm_content=sea_siaf_press_release

MDF is proud to be a key partner in this program along with @ 's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future (GOPIF,) Maine Department of Marine Resources, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Thanks to all who joined us in Freeport - one of the grant receipient communities - for today's announcement and press conference. Special thanks to the Town of Freeport, Development Dir. Richardson,Harbormasters Tetreau & Mears, and video masters Pierce and Harris, and to MDF's, Yellow Light Breen and Mariah Crystal Stember.

Kudos for the heartfelt remarks and real-life testimonials from Brawn Dayboat and Oransky of Ocean Farms about how these funds will help businesses, fishers, aquaculturists, and working waterfronts up and down the coast.

And gratitude to our SEAMaine partners: Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Island Institute, Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, Maine Technology Institute, Maine Aquaculture Association and so many others.





MDF is honored to partner with RSU 73 Spruce Mountain Adult and Community Education and so many other partners to launch...
10/08/2026

MDF is honored to partner with RSU 73 Spruce Mountain Adult and Community Education and so many other partners to launch this new CDL training and workforce development program! Thanks to all who came out to celebrate with us last week!

Erica Watson Yellow Light Breen Rosie Vanadestine

MDF is thrilled to launch the Thriving Community Model initiative, a new pilot program to serve rural Maine communities ...
10/08/2026

MDF is thrilled to launch the Thriving Community Model initiative, a new pilot program to serve rural Maine communities that have experienced the closure of mill or other biomass/forest products facility, and/or supply chain disruptions that impact jobs, small businesses, community revenue and services, and morale. Read the press release: https://www.mdf.org/news/mdf-announces-new-program-for-communities-impacted-by-facility-closures-and-supply-chain-disruptions/?&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=tcm&utm_content=tcm_launch_announcement

Interested and eligible communities are invited to join us October 27, 2026, from 2:00-3:30 p.m. for an informational webinar to learn how the program will take a holistic approach to community and economic revitalization by helping communities identify and strengthen key economic development opportunities and assets. For more information on the program and to register for the webinar: https://www.mdf.org/program-partnerships/thriving-community-model/?&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=tcm&utm_content=tcm_launch_announcement

Gratitude to Northern Border Regional Commission for funding to make the program possible and to our partners in managing the work: Office of Community Affairs, Redevelopment, and Maine State Department of Economic and Community Development.

Rosie Vanadestine Yellow Light Breen Anne Ball





Thank you to all of our MDF Members, Alums, and partners for joining us last Friday for our 48th Annual Meeting & Champi...
09/28/2026

Thank you to all of our MDF Members, Alums, and partners for joining us last Friday for our 48th Annual Meeting & Champion Awards and MDC Annual Awards. You make all we do possible and together we are driving economic improvement and improving lives across the state.

Special thanks to our MDC community members for the enticing table displays and great conversations: S**o Main Street, Heart of Ellsworth, Augusta Downtown Alliance, Main Street Bath, Discover Downtown Westbrook, Main Street Skowhegan, Gardiner Main Street, Heart of Biddeford, Our Town Belfast, Brunswick Downtown Association

Congratulations to all of our award winners: The Nonantum Resort Oysthers Raw Bar & Bubbly Joy Barresi Saucier, Shaugnessy, **o Riverfront Park Revitalization group, Presby, LaFreniere, New Balance and MDF's own Anne Ball and Jan Kearce

Gratitude to our generous sponsors including: Bangor Savings Bank Maine Community Foundation Mainebiz Maine State Department of Economic and Community Development FAME Maine KeyBank Real Estate Technology Institute

Thank you to our award sponsors Sappi Bath Savings The County Federal Credit Union MEMIC **o & Biddeford Savings Institution Community Bank Savings Bank Bank

Thank you to L.L.Bean for hosting us, and the entire team including Nellie Albright Christina Semanyshyn Steve Flesher Whitney B. and so many more





Congratulations to our 2026 LM Kenneth M. Curtis Leadership Award winner, Joy Barresi Saucier, Leadership Maine Phi Clas...
09/04/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 LM Kenneth M. Curtis Leadership Award winner, Joy Barresi Saucier, Leadership Maine Phi Class Alumna and Exec. Dir. of Area Agency on Aging.

Help us celebrate all the ways Joy is putting those LM skills and models into practice to make meaningful community-wide impact, improve lives, and grow Maine's economy. Join us Friday, September 25th for MDF’s 48th Annual Meeting & Champion Awards and Maine Downtown Center Annual Awards. More info on the event and to register: https://www.mdf.org/event/mdfs-48th-annual-meeting-champion-awards-celebration/?&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=2026annualmeeting&utm_content=2026_annual_meeting&utm_term=openings

Thank you to The County Federal Credit Union for sponsoring this award.

And to our Event sponsors: Bangor Savings Bank and Maine Community Foundation.

Julie Beane Kristen Wells Yellow Light Breen Jan Kearce Rosie Vanadestine







Congratulations to MDF's Maine Downtown Center 2026 Small Business Award Winner, Oysthers Raw Bar & Bubbly, and owners S...
08/26/2026

Congratulations to MDF's Maine Downtown Center 2026 Small Business Award Winner, Oysthers Raw Bar & Bubbly, and owners Sadia Crosby and Lauren Crosby!

Join us Friday, September 25th for MDF’s 48th Annual Meeting & Champion Awards and Maine Downtown Center Annual Awards to celebrate all the ways the company lifts up its employees, the seafood sector, the Bath community, and Maine's economy. More info on the event and to register: https://www.mdf.org/event/mdfs-48th-annual-meeting-champion-awards-celebration/?&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=2026annualmeeting&utm_content=2026_annual_meeting&utm_term=openings&fbclid=IwY2xjawT7oVRwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMXVTUjJ6cUR1QlhzckpQTHZzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeyqgk1vWLwj_7QjN8VKZTApaCvCBWvudin-TOd9XSdsQXH_io7sQClE9K-9U_aem_7K6fZKz6zv5EUwzfQIVm_w

Thank you to Bath Savings Institution for sponsoring this award.

And to our Event sponsors: Bangor Savings Bank and Maine Community Foundation.

Anne Ball Yellow Light Breen





Congratulations to our 2026 Champion of Education & Workforce Development Award Winner, The Nonantum Resort! Join us Fri...
08/21/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 Champion of Education & Workforce Development Award Winner, The Nonantum Resort!

Join us Friday, September 25th for MDF’s 48th Annual Meeting & Champion Awards and Maine Downtown Center Annual Awards. More info on the event and to register: https://www.mdf.org/event/mdfs-48th-annual-meeting-champion-awards-celebration/?&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=2026annualmeeting&utm_content=2026_annual_meeting&utm_term=openings

Help us celebrate all the ways Nonantum raises people up through inclusive hiring, long-term support, meaningful employment, and fostering a workplace rooted in respect, stability, and growth to all - including individuals who have faced barriers to entering the workforce.

Thank you to Maine Community Bankk for sponsoring this award.

And to our Event sponsors: Bangor Savings Bank and Maine Community Foundation.












Yellow Light Breen Rosie Vanadestine

Congratulations to Merritt and the entire team at longtime MDF Member and partner International Trade Center team on 3...
08/19/2026

Congratulations to Merritt and the entire team at longtime MDF Member and partner International Trade Center team on 30 years of positive impact on Maine's economy! We look forward to partnering with you for the next 30 years!

MDF President and CEO Yellow Light Breen was honored to celebrate with the MITC team last night.

Bonus that Orion Breen, Exec. Dir. of E2Tech - Environmental and Energy Technology Council of Maine was also part of the shindig. Two Breen brothers make for a powerful energy infusion.





Congratulations to MDF's 2026 ICL - Institute for Civic Leadership Distinguished Alum Award Winner, LaFreniere, Town Ma...
08/19/2026

Congratulations to MDF's 2026 ICL - Institute for Civic Leadership Distinguished Alum Award Winner, LaFreniere, Town Manager, Town of Jay, and ICL Cadillac Class Alumna.

Help us celebrate all the ways Shiloh is putting those ICL skills and leadership models into practice to make meaningful community-wide impact and improve lives. Join us Friday, September 25th for MDF’s 48th Annual Meeting & Champion Awards and Maine Downtown Center Annual Awards. More info on the event and to register: https://www.mdf.org/event/mdfs-48th-annual-meeting-champion-awards-celebration/?&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=2026annualmeeting&utm_content=2026_annual_meeting&utm_term=openings

Thank you to Androscoggin Bank for sponsoring this award.

And to our Event sponsors: Bangor Savings Bank and Maine Community Foundation.







Jan Kearce Yellow Light Breen Rosie Vanadestine

Address

P. O. Box 3
Augusta, ME
04330

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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