As I have sat in on the meetings of the downtown revitalization committee, it's been great to hear what my constituents in Gray visualize for not only the downtown's future, but for the whole community. People in those meetings have echoed the findings of the recent Brookings Institute Report, which cites a thriving and well-planned downtown as key to building economic development opportunities and improving quality of life in Maine communities.

One of the most important developments for a strong downtown, recommended by the Brookings Institute is a walkable downtown district. Completing the Gray By-pass has done a lot to break up traffic in the region, but one of the hottest topics at the revitalization committee meetings has been how to make Gray's downtown more pedestrian friendly.

It's my hope that state government, with its recently improved resources for small businesses, will be able to help Gray capitalize on another important Brookings recommendation. offering more proactive small business assistance. It is good to see the local businesses in the storefronts in Gray's downtown and when business regulations are streamlined, there should be more opportunities for new businesses to open there.

Last session, I supported successful legislation to help all Maine's downtowns realize their potential again as community centers through grants to the Maine Downtown Center initiative, which administers Main Street Maine downtown development programs in Saco, Norway, Bath, Gardiner, Waterville, Skowhegan, Eastport and Van Buren. In the first three years of the Main Street Maine programs, pilot cities have seen a net gain of 75 new businesses and over 450 new jobs. For every dollar invested in revitalization, communities have seen at least $12 returned in economic growth.

As the legislative session progresses, we will consider several bond proposals, which will include state funds to help communities reinvest in their downtowns and make improvements. In the past, these types of community development bonds have helped towns preserve historic buildings, updated traffic flow, and improve access to technology for small businesses located downtown. After much study, Gray has applied for a federal community development block grant, and I look forward to seeing many of the revitalization efforts discussed at the meetings become a reality in the future. As State Representative for part of Gray, I want to assist in any way to make the downtown a place where businesses thrive, families socialize, and our sense of community is strong.

I'm interested in your thoughts about how state government can help Gray's downtown and small businesses grow. Please feel free to call me at home at 892-6591, with your ideas, or any questions or comments you have about legislative matters. State Rep Mark Bryant, serving State House District 110, Parts of Gray and Windham.