BRUNSWICK

Municipal group among 10 vying for national honor

The Brunswick Downtown Association was selected as one of 10 finalists for the 2018 Great American Main Street Award by Main Street America. Main Street America is a program of the National Main Street Center that works to revitalize older and historic commercial districts and build vibrant neighborhoods and thriving economies.

The center recognizes communities whose successes serve as a model for comprehensive, preservation-based commercial district revitalization.

Small towns, midsized communities and urban commercial districts from every region in the country are eligible. Winners will be recognized at the Main Street Now conference in Missouri in March.

PORTLAND

Shop for a Cause Day raises $4,500 for food campaign

Portland Downtown has announced that its summertime Shop for a Cause Day has raised $4,500 for the Locker Project, a nonprofit that helps ensure food security for Maine children through local schools.

Held twice a year, the event combines shopping with charitable giving. Thirty merchants participated in the recent event, each donating a portion of their sales to the fundraiser.

“In Maine, one in four children regularly experiences food insecurity,” said Katie Brown, executive director of the Locker Project. “Through our food pantries in 23 schools in Greater Portland and beyond, we are able to provide hungry kids with healthy class-time snacks as well as take-home food. The funds and awareness raised by Shop for a Cause Day will significantly help us restock our pantries as students return to school this fall.”

Coffee By Design accepting applications for art grants

Coffee By Design is accepting applications for its annual Rebel Blend Fund Grant, a program responsible for art grants in Maine for the past 20 years.

Interested organizations or individuals must apply with a specific project and submit an application detailing how the fund would help accomplish project goals, how the project will engage the local community and how it will spark an interest in Maine art.

Coffee By Design employees will review proposals.

Applications are available at www.coffeebydesign.com or in any Coffee By Design coffeehouse. They should be submitted by Sept. 15 to: Coffee By Design, 1 Diamond Street, Portland, Maine 04101. ATTN: Mary Allen/Rebel Blend Fund.

Since the program began, Coffee By Design has contributed more than $80,000 to Maine art projects.

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