Town of Gorham Economic Development Division

The University of Southern Maine recently opened their new Esports Arena in partnership with Collab by Town & Country Federal Credit Union. This facility is more than just an exciting recreational activity for students; it represent an investment in the future of tech, digital, and sports industries right here in Maine. This facility is a hub for developing modern-day skills in organization, teamwork, communication, and decision-making, skillsets that translate into virtually every sector of the workforce. It also opens doors for local industries to explore new opportunities in areas they may not have considered before. As Gorham continues to grow, the University’s commitment to preparing students for emerging markets not only strengthens our community but positions our town as a place where education and innovation intersect. Check out this recent Mainebiz article, written by Renee Cordes: https://lnkd.in/eQzKNQd8

The Town of Gorham is proud to welcome GLOW Tanning & Wellness to our growing business community. Founded in South Portland, GLOW has expanded to 593 Main Street, bringing innovative wellness therapies that combine technology and holistic care. From red light therapy and halotherapy to customizable tanning options, GLOW’s services aim to support skin health, stress relief, recovery, and overall well-being. This expansion reflects both GLOW’s growth and Gorham’s ongoing momentum towards offering more health and wellness services. Read more: https://lnkd.in/exiuv2Zp. Or visit their website: www.glowtanningspa.com

Businesses across Maine, and right here in Gorham, are invited to join one of the state’s largest veteran-focused hiring events. The Maine Hire-A-Vet Job Fair takes place on Wednesday, October 16, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Maine Sports Arena in Saco. This annual event will feature up to 100 businesses, resource providers, and workforce partners, connecting employers with highly qualified veterans ready to contribute to Maine’s workforce. Interested businesses can learn more or reserve a table by contacting the Portland Career Center’s Local Veterans’ Employment Representative, Vickie Hayer, at vickie.hayer@maine.gov or by filling out this form: https://lnkd.in/eCrVKhiP.

Big things are happening in the Industrial Park! From local entrepreneurs on Main Street to large-scale partners in the industrial park expansion, Gorham is reshaping what it means to do business here. With recent land acquisitions by Amazon, East Coast Communications, and now Northland Enterprises, the expansion is proving to be a catalyst for continued growth and investment. These partnerships reflect a strong demand for modern industrial space, while reinforcing Gorham’s role as a hub for innovation and opportunity in southern Maine. As we celebrate our small businesses downtown and welcome new large-scale projects in the park, we’re proud of how these layers of growth are building a stronger, more resilient local economy. Read the full story in Mainebiz: 🔗https://lnkd.in/eMjcGXYz

The Wayfinding Survey closes on Thursday, September 18 at 5:00 PM so these are the final moments to share input on how we can make it easier to navigate Gorham. The Parks & Recreation Master Plan Survey is also open, giving residents a voice in the future of our parks, programs, and facilities. Your feedback directly shapes these projects so please take a few minutes to complete the surveys before they close! https://lnkd.in/eQCkvpQp bit.ly/gorhamparksurvey

Even without an end-user signed on yet, the buyer of a 15.5-acre lot in Gorham Industrial Park is confident there’s plenty of demand for build-to-suit industrial space. “We were forced to say, ‘Will we buy this without our tenant?’” Joshua Benthien, Northland's CEO and partner said. “As we looked, we saw there just wasn’t anything available with permitting in place for a modern distribution or manufacturing facility of significant size in the greater Portland market." “So we said, yes, we’ll buy the land without a sure tenant. And we’re confident we’ll find someone, or maybe two tenants, that we can do build-to-suit for on this site.” https://lnkd.in/eMjcGXYz

As Gorham continues to grow, we’re taking steps to improve how residents, visitors, and businesses navigate our town through a new Wayfinding and Signage Plan. Wayfinding goes beyond just signs. It’s about creating a sense of place. Clear, well-designed signage helps people find local parks, trails, cultural destinations, and businesses more easily. It also strengthens our identity as a community and ensures Gorham remains welcoming and accessible to all. Before finalizing design choices, we want to hear directly from our community. Your feedback will guide decisions on how our signage looks and feels, ensuring it reflects the character and priorities of our amazing community. Kevin Jensen, our Economic Development Director, explains more about Wayfinding, the overall process, and why it's important. Check out what he has to say here: https://lnkd.in/euscH5Y8 If you have a minute and want your opinion known, please take the survey here: https://lnkd.in/eQCkvpQp The survey will be open until September 18th. Thank you for taking a few minutes to help us shape Gorham’s future, together.

The Town of Gorham's Parks & Rec Department is developing its Parks & Recreation Master Plan, and they’re inviting the community to help guide the vision. From playgrounds to athletic fields to our regionally known hiking and biking trails, Gorham’s outdoor recreation plays a key role in both quality of life for residents and tourism appeal for visitors. Your feedback will directly shape future investments in parks and recreation facilities, ensuring that Gorham continues to grow as a vibrant, active destination for all. Take the survey today and add your voice: bit.ly/gorhamparksurvey

https://lnkd.in/e_hBJjCD For the second year in a row, the town of Gorham is making available $12,000 matching grants for businesses, including farms, to put toward capital expenditures. The competitive grant program is designed to support local operations’ growth by helping to fund a single non-recurring capital purchase— such as equipment, technology, or facility upgrades — that will help drive expansion, increase production or enhance market reach. The program targets three key sectors: agriculture and rural-based businesses, manufacturing and skilled trades and retail and food services. “Investing in programs and resources that empower local businesses to pursue their own growth strategies is a smart move for our community,” said Kevin Jensen, Gorham’s economic development director. “The gains made by last year’s grantees shows our commitment to supporting small businesses is delivering real results.” #CommunityFeelBusinessFocusGorham

The Town of Gorham is proud to announce the launch of its 2025 Capital Expenditure (“CapEx”) Matching Grant Program, designed to support local businesses and farms in their efforts to grow, innovate, and invest in the future of Gorham’s economy. This competitive grant program offers up to $12,000 in matching funds to eligible businesses and farms for a single, non-recurring capital purchase—such as equipment, technology, or facility upgrades—that will help drive expansion, increase production, or enhance market reach. The program targets three key sectors: - Agriculture, Agribusiness and Agritourism - Manufacturing & Skilled Trades - Retail & Food Services The program is open to businesses operating on commercial or agricultural property within Gorham and is made possible in part with support from Maine Community Bank. “Maine Community Bank is proud to support the Town of Gorham’s 2025 CapEx Matching Grant Program and the local businesses it serves. This initiative helps drive sustainable growth across our community, and we’re honored to play a role in its success.” said Becky Winslow, Director of Community Relations & Foundation. “Investing in programs and resources that empower local businesses to pursue their own growth strategies is a smart move for our community,” said Kevin Jensen, Economic Development Director for the Town of Gorham. #CommunityFeelBusinessFocusGorham