Empower Lewiston to hand the reins over to community partners

After 10 years of working with residents, business and other community members, Empower Lewiston has announced their intention to officially complete their work and hand the reigns over to other community organizations. As a USDA Round II Enterprise Community, the Empower Lewiston Enterprise Community designation officially ended December 24, 2008. Empower Lewiston is dedicated to administering its current USDA funding and any other funds that may be received before the end of the calendar year, which is also the end of the USDA Round II Enterprise Community’s grant period.

“Many aspects of the original Community Strategic Plan have been accomplished and in many respects, the torch has already been passed to other community organizations and neighborhood groups it has fostered or with whom Empower Lewiston has partnered or collaborated,” says Empower Lewiston’s Executive Director, Alyson Stone. “More recently, we have concluded two years of active participation on the City of Lewiston’s Downtown Neighborhood Task Force resulting in an Action Plan that is now before our City Councilors.”

Empower Lewiston is the 501c3 non-profit established in 1999 to administer USDA funding and oversee the Community Strategic plan for the Lewiston Enterprise Community (Census Tracts 201 and 204), which received its official federal EZ/EC designation in 1998.

Alyson Stone says before wrapping up their work they have a busy few months ahead of them. “We look forward to the active months ahead and celebration of all this small downtown community has been able to accomplish in 10 years with its resources and partners. “

In the coming days Empower Lewiston plans to announce they will again be soliciting grant proposals from non profits and their partners interested in creating positive change in the downtown area. More details will be forthcoming.

Since its inception, Empower Lewiston has been dedicated to:
Creating public spaces such as the B Street Community Center, the Marsden Hartley Cultural Center, Museum L/A, and the Kennedy Park Skate Park.


Supporting the development of entities such as Outsource Works, a budding social enterprise dedicated to providing a flexible alternative work setting for downtown residents, and Lots to Gardens, now a successful community gardening, neighborhood beautification and youth leadership program.
Advancing the personal goals of individuals through the teamwork of the L-A Tax Credit CA$H Coalition, Casey’s Rural Family Economic Success Initiative, College for ME-Androscoggin, Coastal Enterprises IDA Home Ownership Program.