Heart of Ellsworth Celebrates 10 Years! + Annual Meeting 2025!
February 5th
5:30-7:00pm
16 State Street
This will be a fun community-building event featuring a scavenger hunt through the new Makerspace and Coworking Space at 16 State Street, as well as a brief presentation by Heart of Ellsworth’s board of directors and staff.
This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments available.
A huge thank you to our sponsor First National Bank!
Heart of Ellsworth's Downtown Grants program is back for its fourth year, offering grants to support entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses in downtown Ellsworth. This program is possible thanks to our lead sponsor Franklin Savings Bank and the generous sponsorship support of Bangor Federal Credit Union, First National Bank, and Machias Savings Bank.
Applications will open in early February. Attend our Annual Meeting on February 5th to hear a special announcement about this program!
Ellsworth Welcomes Sara Devlin as New Deputy City Manager
The City of Ellsworth is pleased to announce the appointment of Sara Devlin as Deputy City Manager, effective February 10, 2025. An Ellsworth local, Ms. Devlin brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in community planning, organizational leadership, and infrastructure development to support the city’s operations and strategic initiatives.
As Deputy City Manager, Ms. Devlin plans to work alongside the City Manager Charlie Pearce and staff to establish a strong foundation for growth, focusing on sustainable and reliable infrastructure, alongside policies that preserve Ellsworth’s character while promoting development to key areas of this growing community. She looks forward to strengthening partnerships with federal, state, and local stakeholders, as well as with residents, whom she considers one of the city’s most valuable resources and deserving of meaningful engagement. She looks forward to spending more time in the community and building strong connections.
The team at Bangor Federal Credit Union is here to help you save on your credit card payments so you have more money to take care of the important things in life.
If you transfer your balance to a Bangor Federal Visa credit card between January 1st and March 31st, you can enjoy an introductory 4.99% APR through March of 2026!
We're conducting a study on the Union River and its dams, aiming to understand current and future usage from local residents like you. Your input will directly impact our final study, guiding future opportunities for Ellsworth residents and visitors.
This initiative is made possible by funding from Downeast Salmon Federation, Frenchman’s Bay Conservancy, the Union Salmon Association, Heart of Ellsworth and support from the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce.
Throughout Fall 2024, we hosted engaging workshops to gather community insights. Now, we're launching a final survey this February to capture your perspectives. Your participation is vital in shaping the river's future.
Look out for the survey release and help us make a difference!
The City of Ellsworth invites residents and visitors to join in the excitement during the inaugural Fire + Ice Festival!
This exciting winter weekend celebration has a variety of events for all ages, here are some weekend highlights:
Sat/Sun: Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour at The Grand
Sat - Mon: Live Music at Black Moon Public House featuring Alan Cook, The Happytown Road Sessioneers, and The Crown Vics
Sat, 10 am - 1 pm: Winter Farmer's & Craft Market at Woodlawn
Sat, 5 pm: Fireworks Display from the softball field at Ellsworth High School
Sat/Sun, 1 pm - 4 pm: Indoor ice skating at the General Byrant E. Community Moore Center. Free, bring your own skates!
Smoke & Mojo is a powerhouse group with deep roots in soul and blues. Led by the dynamic duo of Troy Youngblood (Guitar/Vocals) and Dan Miller (Bass/Percussion/Vocals), their eclectic musical inspirations guarantee an unforgettable night of music that will have you dancing and singing along from the first note!
25 Pine St.
FREE
Casa Nova Market, Denim Upcycled Tote Bags and Making Miniatures Workshops at Artsworth
Saturday, Feb. 8th - 22nd
Join Artsworth in February for the Casanova Market and two exciting workshops. Read more on their website for details.
Educational Outreach Program - Ellsworth Community Music and Blue Hill Concert Association
Monday, Feb. 17: 10 am - 11 am
Ellsworth Community Music Institute hosts Blue Hill Concert Association’s Educational Outreach Program featuring the two-time GRAMMY-nominated Dover Quartet. All ages are welcome and encouraged to experience this unique community program.
Moore Community Center - Atrium 125 State Street, Ellsworth
Remodel of the Ellsworth Public Library Begins New Phase
Thursday, Feb. 20: 8:30 am - 10 am
Join the library staff, Design Group Collaborative (DGC), and members of the EPL Board of Trustees for the next Concept Meeting on February 20, 2025, at 8:30 AM. As the library is concluding the Design Phase of the Remodel, the team is moving into their active fundraising phase, focusing on their application for congressionally directed funding, and the detailed planning for the implementation of the remodel. Visit EPL's website's renovation page for updates and documentation of the remodel project.
Meet Elaine Theriault-Currier, Heart of Ellsworth Development Consultant!
With the nickname “Elaine from Maine”, Elaine has built a reputation for championing Maine’s small businesses, non-profits, and towns. Both of her parents were raised in Maine mill towns and she grew up acutely aware of the impact a struggling economic base and fraying social network can have on a personal level.
In 2021, Elaine launched Pen Name, a Maine grant-writing and PR consultancy, to help Maine's businesses and non-profits shape their stories into compelling narratives that get results. She has worked with farms, manufacturers, and community-based organizations to secure national media coverage and grant funds from private philanthropy and state and federal agencies.
Facade Grants Available from the City of Ellsworth!
The City of Ellsworth is pleased to launch a grant opportunity for downtown businesses and commercial property owners, aimed at revitalizing building exteriors and enhancing the charm of the downtown area. This program is funded through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and offers matching funds to support approved projects.
The Façade Improvement Grants provide a 3-to-1 match for private investments, with a maximum grant amount of $25,000 per project. The program is designed to help property owners restore the historic charm and aesthetic appeal of their buildings while contributing to the overall revitalization of downtown Ellsworth.
Union River Center for Innovation (URCI) Takes Step Toward Enhanced Local Business Support and New Business
Attraction
URCI and the City of Ellsworth, looking toward implementation of some of the City’s Business Attraction Plan, has
contracted with TS2 Consulting in Ellsworth to continue URCI’s initiative to develop a series of Entrepreneurial
Exploration workshops tailored to the needs of area entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs.
In the coming weeks, TS2 owner Tracy Scheckel (pictured) will be reconvening the brainstorm group to finalize the workshop topics as well as conducting some community outreach for input on the Business Attraction Plan targeted business clusters.
