Heart of Ellsworth and partners are seeking to quantify specific business needs and hardships in the Ellsworth business community through a COVID-19 Business Survey. We are looking to measure the impact of temporary business closures to inform how best to assist you. This information will be summarized with business names/contact information removed for confidentiality purposes. To best serve our small business community, we will share summarized data with our community partners, including the City of Ellsworthand other groups. Please complete this brief survey by 5/11/20 so we can review the results and put this data to work. Thank you in advance for your time and participation.
We wanted to give an additional plug to our 2020 Giving Tuesday effort. Chances are if you are reading this newsletter you value Heart of Ellsworth in your community. If you feel so moved and want to support our future work, please visit our support page and give what you can. Your donation is greatly appreciated in these times of transition for our community.
We have partnered with Machias Savings Bank to support our Main Street business community during these trying times. We are offering weekly ZOOM check-ins to connect community leaders with small business owners. Together we are working to identify opportunities and creative solutions of how to process our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you are interested in joining our weekly mailing list that includes a ZOOM meeting invite please email cara@heartofellsworth.org
Our next meeting is Friday, May 8 from 12-1:30pm.
Rainbow over downtown Ellsworth on May 5 captured by Katie Blackwell Miles at Acadia Realty Group.
Take care of MOM in downtown Ellsworth! Hint, hint...Mother's Day is May 10
EAT - Don't let Mom cook, instead order take-out and purchase a gift card!
You can tune in and participate in Ellsworth City Council meetings through various online methods. Please visit the City Council webpage for meeting notices and participation instructions.
Ellsworth Community Music Institute (ECMI) will release a special pre-recorded concert by violinist Robert Anemone and cellist Kirsten Jermé through ECMI's Facebook page, website and email list.
Boost your immune system and get outside to exercise! We uncovered this great video of the dog-friendly trail at Jordan Homestead. We hope you get out safely and enjoy this monthy series of Ellsworth's trails.
If you don't think your response matters, think again! All of the funding, medical supplies, infrastructure monies and other federal dollars for jobs, retraining, education and more are allocated based on Census numbers. With Ellsworth's current 48.4% self-response rate, we have jumped 1 rank among Maine communities incorporated as cities. Ellsworth is now ranking 155 out of 488 Maine's cities and towns! If you don't have the 12-digit Census ID, visit my2020census.gov/login Completing the Census takes only minutes!
Grants for Small Businesses
The links below are funding sources that we have identified which might help your small business. These applications have upcoming deadlines so don't delay!
Statewide and national guidance is encouraging the use of cloth face coverings in public to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Several community volunteers are working together to provide masks for those in need.
Heart of Ellsworth is working in partnership with a new nonprofit, Finding our Voices. They work to break the silence of domestic abuse and provide a Safe Space for Sisterhood while raising awareness of local organizations’ services such as Next Step. This downtown-wide poster project will be launched the first full week of May and will be on view in our downtown through mid-June.
Congratulations to Sealander Architects for being featured on the Maine SBDC website for your work with the ever-fabulous business advisor Shannon Byers. Your story is an inspiring one and we are so fortunate to have your innovation and ingenuity in our downtown!
Thanks to a generous grant from the Maine Community Foundation, we are partnering with the Ellsworth Historical Society to bring you images of Ellsworth’s past. By highlighting historic downtown locations and events, we aim to foster a present-day pride and connection to our Main Street community. We invite you to visit ellsworthme.org/ellshistory/ and encourage your support of the Museum in the Streets project and archival work of the society.
Mailing in your payment for another year of The Ellsworth American in 1901. Photo shows both sides of a folding card with coin slots—as archaic as dial phones today. 119 years later The Ellsworth American is steadfast keeping us informed and connected. Click here to subscribe!
Heart of Ellsworth remains focused and committed to economic growth through projects in the urban core.
Our vision seeks to fill storefronts on Main Street, secure a location for the Winter Farmers Market, develop the Union River waterfront with green space along the river, and identify and assist in the creation of more downtown housing options. Collectively, these enhance opportunities for both visitors and community members to enjoy all that Ellsworth has to offer.
Your contribution ensures that we can remain committed to these goals. We appreciate your support!
