An emerging group of young, energized professionals is organizing in Sanford, and it sounds like just what the city needs.
Synergize Sanford, a network and venue for those with a common bond to get together and discuss their ideas, is set to launch at a party next Friday at Mill 67, a restaurant in the newly renovated Sanford Mill on Washington Street.
The founding members and stakeholders got together last week to talk about their goals with Journal Tribune reporter Tammy Wells.
The group ”“ Mayor Tom Cote, Jim Nimon of the Sanford Regional Economic Growth Council, Chamber of Commerce Director Rick Stanley, restaurateur Jim Paquette and resident Reegan Brown ”“ said Synergize Sanford is a “professional business forum intended to nurture entrepreneurs, provide professional guidance and offer a road map to advance business ideas from concept to reality.”
There are some good projects in the works and recently completed in the city, including the Sanford Mill, which houses Paquette’s new restaurant, Mill 67 ”“ set to open on St. Patrick’s Day. The proprietor of Back Street Grill, Paquette said the new city needs to focus on the positive, particularly through marketing. He’s ready to move on that now, tying the renovation of the mills to Sanford’s historic walks and other positive features in the city.
Maine’s mills have proven to be prime real estate ”“ often located in city centers ”“ for apartments, businesses, art studios, salons, restaurants and more.
While Sanford is just tipping the iceberg with the development of Sanford Mill, it has many more that could be made into desirable housing and business locations. A group like Synergize Sanford can hopefully work together with other business development and promotion groups to attract more entrepreneurs and young families to the area.
With a new public high school and state-of-the-art technical center on the horizon, Sanford and its supporters have much to tout in their promotion of this centrally located, southern Maine community.
We hope the momentum of Sanford Mill will not be lost, and the members of Synergize Sanford can keep the good things coming for the city.
The Synergize Sanford launch party is set for 4 p.m. on Friday, March 21 at Mill 67 restaurant, inside the Washington Street Sanford Mill. Don Gooding, executive director of the Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development, will speak about innovation in Maine and making connections in an increasingly virtual world. For more information, go to www.synergizesanford.com.
Today’s editorial was written by City Editor Robyn Burnham Rousseau on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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