Policy Action 2025

Policy Action 2025 is underway!

Review guiding principles, get the latest updates, and more.

GrowSmart Summit 2024

The Summit has come and gone – weren’t able to attend?

We’ve got you covered! See the recordings on our Summit Page.

Planning for Agriculture

Help your community plan for farmland protection and viability.

Community Guides:

Resources On How To Grow Smart

Kennebec Broadband Partnership

Working to bring high-speed internet to all in Kennebec County.

GrowSmart Webinars

View past webinars and keep up to date with what’s up next.

Welcome

Helping Maine communities navigate change in alignment with smart growth

Maine has many strengths: iconic landscapes and architecture, a strong sense of local community, and our gritty, independent spirit.

GrowSmart Maine believes these strengths are the foundation for lasting prosperity. Our smart growth goals include downtown revitalization, conservation of farmland, forest and shoreland, and support for economic development that benefits not just today’s Mainers but future generations.

OUR MISSION

GrowSmart Maine supports communities in navigating change by convening to action, sharing thought leadership, and advocating, all in alignment with smart growth principles.  

10 PrinciplesOf Smart Growth

GrowSmart Maine helps communities incorporate smart growth principles into community planning.

  1. Mix land uses;
  2. Take advantage of compact building design;
  3. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices;
  4. Create walkable neighborhoods;
  5. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place;
  6. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas;
  7. Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities;
  8. Provide a variety of transportation choices;
  9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost-effective;
  10. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions.

OUR IMPACT

Twenty years Of

GrowSmart Maine

GrowSmart Maine has proudly worked with Maine communities for twenty years. Have you ever wondered about our origin and the principles we’ve organized around? Read these reports:

Charting Maine’s Future (2006)

Charting Maine’s Future: Making Headway (2012)