Unlocking Business Potential: How a Small Maine Town is Leveraging Cheap Power to Attract Investment

Van Buren's Unique Advantage

VAN BUREN, Maine — This small border town has a distinctive feature that sets it apart from most other towns in Maine: affordable electricity. Local leaders are capitalizing on this advantage by launching a marketing campaign aimed at attracting new businesses to Van Buren.

Competitive Electricity Rates

Van Buren Light & Power, operating for over a century, offers electricity at a competitive rate of 12.5 cents per kilowatt hour, significantly lower than the state average of 22 cents. Only Houlton offers a better rate at 11.4 cents. This cost-effective electricity has been recognized as a potential draw for businesses that rely on high energy consumption.

Collaboration for Marketing

A recent conversation between Van Buren Town Manager, Luke Dyer, and U.S. Sen. Angus King sparked the idea for a promotional brochure to showcase the town's benefits. King expressed surprise at the town's competitive rates, leading to the realization that Van Buren has not effectively promoted itself.

Revitalization Efforts

This marketing initiative coincides with a revitalization effort that began last year after receiving a Citizens Institute on Rural Design grant. The town plans to renovate its downtown area and has already attracted new businesses, such as Northern Maine Kolache, Co., which have drawn customers from beyond the local area.

The Upcoming Brochure

Dyer confirmed that this will be the first marketing brochure created since the 1970s, focusing heavily on the local power company. The brochure aims to highlight four key categories: activities, people, revitalization, and heritage, while also promoting the town's outdoor recreation opportunities, including ATV trails and fishing spots in the St. John River.

Educational Collaboration

The town is partnering with Clemson University, where students in a Masters of Public Administration program are helping design the brochure. The educational collaboration emphasizes effective communication of information, aiming to present the town's advantages in a clear and engaging manner.

Future Steps

Following community feedback, the design will be refined, with plans to present it to the town council. Once finalized, the brochures will be distributed both in print and digitally, with plans to share them with key stakeholders, including Senator King. Dyer believes this project will significantly benefit the town's visibility and attractiveness to potential investors.