AUGUSTA — State Senator Susan Dechambault, D-Biddeford, has submitted a bill that would authorize a state-wide referendum to provide $25 million in funding for riverfront community development across the state. 

 LD 319, “An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Riverfront Community Development,” if passed by the Legislature, would allow the state to ask voters in a state-wide election whether to approve a $25 million bond to be used to fund a grant program to invest in projects along the state’s rivers that contribute to economic, environmental and community development and revitalization, promote economic activity, protect the environment and enhance quality of life for Maine people.

A public hearing for the bill took place on Tuesday. 

Deschambault  represents Biddeford, Alfred, Arundel, Dayton, Kennebunkport and Lyman. 

According to written testimony, Deschambault said the Saco River provided her hometown of Biddeford an economic engine when textile manufacturing was a prominent industry. She said she is proud of how well Biddeford has bounced back after the loss of the manufacturing industry, and she credits this to the city’s changing relationship with the Saco River. 

Deschambault said investments in in riverfront community development will help Maine cities and towns grow and thrive. 

“After years of work between the city and many partners, the Saco River is clean and accessible to local residents,” said Deschambault. “In fact, I recently moved to a new apartment along the river. Ten years ago I never would have dreamed of moving there. Just five years ago I and many other Biddeford residents saw views of our river that we’d never experienced before.”

Saco Economic Development Director William Mann testified in favor of the bill on behalf of the City of Saco.

Mann said in written testimony the city utilized 2008 Riverfront Development Bond money to assist in hiring local contractors to complete a number of improvements to the city’s riverfront, including the construction of public walkways, parking lot improvements, the initial structural assessment that led to the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Saco River and the development of public access points to the river via the RiverWalk Trail.

“Each dollar that we received from the state for these undertakings was matched by nearly $19 in additional private investment in our riverfront downtown area,” said Mann. “These positive benefitts for our local economy would not have been possible without the  $675,000 award we received from the RCDB.”

Mann said that now, 10 years later, the city has identified more opportunities for growth along the riverfront including projects to extend the Riverwalk Trail system, provide additional access on the trail system for people with physical challenges and support planned development on the east side of Saco Island. 

“From the perspective of our riverfront community, a bond that assists with activities such as the redevelopment of the eastern side of Saco Island and provides support for public access points to rivers for boating and  fishing, the creation of riverfront parks and walking trails, and the furthering of the creative economy along Maine s rivers provides significant recreational, economic, and environmental benefits for Maine residents,” said Mann. 

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].