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In this month's issue: A look ahead at what 2018 holds for Sanford; the Sanford 250 anniversary logo is unveiled; two unique opportunities for businesses to participate in the anniversary; a new facebook page for the City of Sanford; and news on amendments to Sanford's Sign Ordinance.

News & Events

Sanford Maine's 250th Anniversary Logo is Unveiled


At the City Council meeting on January 16th, Sanford City Council voted unanimously to approve the 250th anniversary logo. The original concept for the logo was created by Dwayne Flood, who won the Chamber of Commerce's logo design contest at the end of last year. Final design of the logo was done by Chad Chase, of Venom Ink. Jay Van Tassel of Edison Press helped with additional work to simplify the logo for ease of use on merchandise and in printed materials. To view the logo full size, click on the image above. 

The logo will be used throughout the year on the City's website and to promote 250th anniversary events and activities. The logo will also appear on commemorative coins, on banners along Main Street and on a variety of merchandise that will be available for sale. Details of commemorative items will soon be available on the City of Sanford website.
 
Businesses Invited to Share in Sanford 250th Anniversary Promotions


Sanford and Springvale businesses are being offered the chance to participate in two promotional opportunities as part of Sanford's 250th Anniversary celebrations.

Commemorative 250th Anniversary coins have been ordered, featuring the specially-designed anniversary logo on the front and the Sanford swish logo on the back. In addition to being beautiful keepsakes, these coins will be accepted as “vouchers” for various 250th Anniversary promotions at participating businesses throughout the City. Each participating business will offer a special discount or special as part of this program, and participating businesses will be listed and promoted as participants on the City of Sanford & Chamber of Commerce websites throughout the year.

The City will also be hanging commemorative 250th Anniversary banners along Main Street in Sanford and Springvale throughout the year. Businesses will be offered the opportunity to sponsor the banners, each of which will bear the anniversary seal as well as the sponsoring company name. A very limited number of banner spots (50) will be available on a first come, first served basis.

If you are interested in taking part in either of these unique opportunities to support Sanford’s 250th Anniversary celebrations, email info@sanfordgrowth.com for a full list of coin promotion guidelines and a sign-up sheet for business participants, or for more information and a sign up sheet for the banner sponsorship opportunity. Coins will be available to attendees at certain special events, and will be for sale as well, starting on the City's anniversary, February 27.  We will have additional information in our February newsletter about this promotion as well as on other commemorative items that will be offered.
 
Sanford Adopts Amended Sign Ordinance



After a six month review and rewriting process involving City staff, the Planning Board and others, the Sanford City Council adopted an amended sign ordinance in late December. The amended ordinance is now in effect, providing greater clarity and flexibility for businesses desiring to advertise for their businesses on their property.

Here are some highlights of the ordinance:

The new ordinance allows for additional area for business signage on commercial properties. Previously, properties had to share sign area between freestanding and building-mounted signs and had to compromise that area (??) between the two categories.

Multi-tenant commercial properties now have additional sign area for each tenant on both free-standing and building-mounted signs. Previously, no additional sign area was allowed for multi-tenant properties, and properties with multiple tenants suffered from having too little advertising space for their tenants.

Electronic signs can now better advertise for businesses and products. Previously, electronic signs could not change more than once every twenty minutes. Now, electronic signs can change every ten seconds so that businesses can showcase special products and business activities occurring on the premises. (In Maine, off-premises advertising is not allowed.) Electronic signs may not be animated in any way (e.g. flashing, scrolling, etc.) and they must be turned down at night. 

The amended ordinance is not yet available on the City's website, but we have a PDF of the amended ordinance for our readers to view in the meantime.
 
What's in a Name?

As we began planning for Sanford's 250th anniversary this year, a number of us had discussions about what, exactly, the correct term is for a 250th anniversary. After some research, we discovered that there are, in fact, four terms that are considered correct for such an occasion.

Sestercentennial looks like a mouthful, but is actually not too hard to say. Think "sister" with an e, plus "centennial".

Semiquincentennial is the second most popular term that we found, but with seven syllables, it just seems a bit intimidating, and is bound to draw blank looks from people.

Bicenquinquagenary is both painful to look at and very difficult to say.

Quarter Millennial is the simplest term to say, but it requires that people understand that a millennium is 1000 years, and that a quarter of 1000 is 250. Not rocket science, we know, but we opted not to make people do mental math.

While all these terms may be appropriate, we still favor simply saying, "Happy 250th Anniversary, Sanford!" We hope you all get out there and enjoy this sestercentennial year!

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Letter from Executive Director Jim Nimon - January 2018


Happy New Year! I'm embarrassed to admit but this month I've included a picture of myself as I struggled with this epic question: will the New England Patriots be OK if Tom "Thumb" Brady is either not 100%, or not able to play, in the AFC Championship Game. Turns out many of us - c'mon fess up out there - worried needlessly. Well, I should couch that with "we were forced to sweat it out for three and a-half quarters" but ended up victorious again (thanks mostly to our "injured" QB). I'd recommend some R&R for all of us while we gear up for the Super Bowl next month. Hopefully we will all survive and the Pats will win. Stay tuned.

We at the Growth Council have a work plan approved for 2018 that, along with ongoing support for existing companies, keeps us focused on: finishing up critical, unprecedented infrastructure projects like SanfordNet Fiber, the municipal fiber optics initiative that will permit all Sanford's community anchor institutions - some 90 buildings - to access ultra-high speed internet; organizing and utilizing tax increment financing districts for Sanford's optimal tax benefit; marketing the remaining IDC parcels and determining the viability of preparing additional commercial and industrial lots to attract new business; establishing a comprehensive marketing campaign to ensure targeted companies and interested individuals are aware of Sanford's new assets coming on line (like broadband, renewable energy, housing and schools); and working with identified developers to secure investor support for a major tourism development project in our community.

This month we display the recently unveiled 250th Anniversary Logo and provide businesses with an invitation to partake in a couple promotional opportunities and be part of the anniversary celebration. We also highlight a number of developments you can expect to see come to fruition in 2018. Many of you have helped shape the new Sign Ordinance that the city council adopted at the end of last year. It is now in effect and you can review the article on the left for more information.

Finally we would like to join others in bidding a fond farewell to Marcel Blouin as he retires this month from his long-time leadership role with Sanford's Parks and Recreation Department. I first met Marcel in 2011, and he was then, and always has been, bullish on promoting his community. And he has watched closely how others speak of Sanford. I remember in particular how proud he was in May of 2013 when the Growth Council hosted a significant marketing event at the airport with invited guests and colleagues from all over Maine. Marcel came up to me afterwards beaming and said "I'm not sure I've ever been to any event where such positive things were said about Sanford. Thank you." We'll do our best to keep spreading the good news about the gem that we have here in Sanford. And thank you Marcel. 

"When this you see, remember me. And bear me in your mind. Let all the world say what they may. Speak of me as you find." 
 

A Look Ahead at 2018


In our December newsletter, we got to look back at some of our favorite things from 2017. This month, we get to look forward to some of the things we are anticipating for 2018. It is going to be a very busy year in Sanford, Maine!

#SanfordMaine250. In 2018, Sanford celebrates its 250th anniversary (that's 'sestercentennial', for those of you in the know who wonder which of the four correct terms we are using). The City is working, along with the Chamber of Commerce, Growth Council and various other organizations, to organize a very full calendar of events throughout the year to commemorate the occasion. The anniversary will officially kick off with an event on February 27, 2018 featuring the reading of the original articles of incorporation by Mayor Tom Cote, a colonial color-guard firing a musket salute, and fireworks set off from Goodall Park. Until then, keep an eye on Central Park, where a community skating rink is being erected for all to enjoy throughout the winter as part of the celebration. The rink will be dedicated as part of the event on February 27.

SanfordNet Fiber. We have been anticipating the start of the SanfordNet Fiber project for many months now. While the tangible progress on this project has not always been visible, in reality, the Growth Council and the City Manager have spent many, many hours working with Tilson, the city's engineering company; GWI, the city's network operator; and the EDA (our federal funding partner) to put all of the necessary planning pieces, agreements and approvals in place before the fiber optics can be installed. With a host of meetings, phone calls and on-site visits with community anchor institutions behind us, we are pleased to announce that the RFP for the construction of the network will be released early next month. Pending final approval by EDA we will have a date certain for public release of the RFP to potential bidders. SanfordNet Fiber is expected to be operational in June.

York Hospital Walk-in Care has officially opened its doors at its new location in Sanford with a very well-attended open house on January 11. Growth Council Director Jim Nimon was asked to stand in at the ceremony for Mayor Cote, who was unable to attend. Jim was very pleased to hear York Hospital (YH) President Jud Knox describe at the event how a joint Eggs and Issues presentation by Sanford Mayor Tom Cote, City Manager Steve Buck and Jim himself opened Jud's eyes to the great things happening in Sanford and helped convince him to expand the hospital's services to Sanford. Sanford resident Lorraine Boston, former YH board chair and current member, highlighted services being provided at the Sanford site since late December. Jim closed by officially welcoming York Hospital to Sanford. We look forward to the new walk-in care center providing on-going health care services to the community.

Sanford Airport Solar has, like the fiber project, been very active behind the scenes with various permit applications and planning activities. Airport Manager Allison Rogers has been extremely busy working with NextEra Energy, the company that is leasing airport property to build the solar project. The Growth Council has worked with the IDC to provide additional land for the project so that more panels are constructed, environmental issues mitigated and a substation built. We are eagerly anticipating the conclusion of the regulatory process and the beginning of construction on the solar array in 2018. 

Southern Maine Health Care's Sports Performance Center is scheduled to open in January in the Sanford-Springvale YMCA facility on Emile Levasseur Drive. The center will focus on customized programs designed to help athletes optimize physical performance, prevent injuries and maximize recovery from injuries. 



The first of its kind integrated Sanford High School and Technical Center will open its doors to its first students in September. This long-awaited and much-anticipated facility will provide state of the art instruction spaces for high school students, as well as regional technical programs across a variety of fields.

Citywide improvements to Pre-K-8 schools will commence once the current high school is moved to the new integrated facility. The current high school building will be completely renovated and will become a new middle school facility, freeing up the current junior high building to be improved to become a central elementary school. Margaret Chase Smith School will also undergo extensive renovation and expansion, and it, along with the central elementary school, will accommodate students from Willard and Lafayette schools, which will be closed. A timeline for the improvements shows that the new middle school will be ready for students in 2019, with the new elementary school and expanded Margaret Chase Smith school complete in 2020. When finished, this second phase of Sanford's school improvements will mean that every student in Sanford's schools, Pre-K through 12th grade, will be learning in a new or significantly renovated facility! The entire Pre-K through 8th grade school improvement project is being funded by the State of Maine.

Other expected developments in 2018:

Work on Marland Hall Apartments on the former Nasson College campus in Springvale has been progressing nicely, and we anticipate the addition of 18 market rate apartments for 55+ senior housing.

T&D Wood Energy will unveil Sanford's first pellet manufacturing facility, a modern multi-million dollar plant with up to 25 employees. The plant will be situated adjacent to the Pleasant River Pine sawmill on New Dam Road, and will utilize sawdust and other leftover wood material from Pleasant River's operation to create a high quality wood pellet product. Pleasant River will have a way to make money from its waste material, and T&D Wood Energy will have a ready supply of material to use in its pellet-making process. 

Marc Motors Autoplex has been visibly under construction for several months, and we are anticipating that the impressive new facility on Main Street in South Sanford will be open for business and rightfully returning Maine's seventh-largest community to being a place where you have a number of choices to purchase a new vehicle.
 

New Facebook Page for City of Sanford


The City of Sanford has launched a new Facebook page, Welcome to Sanford, Maine, which will serve as a central source of information on happenings for the community's 250th Anniversary and beyond. Please be sure to visit the new page, Like it and follow it to stay up to date on all the news from the City of Sanford!

For those of you who are on social media, the hashtag #SanfordMaine250 will be used throughout the year on posts about the City’s anniversary. Members of the public are encouraged to tag their event and community photos with #SanfordMaine250 to indicate they can be used to help promote Sanford, Maine during this year of celebration.
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