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LEWISTON — The city of Lewiston launched its This is Lewiston awareness campaign Thursday at the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce breakfast in the Royal Oak Room at Ironhorse Court on Bates Street.

The city wants everyone to know there are “good things happening here,” including significant economic investment and infrastructure improvement that is a direct result of a $34.2 million Choice Neighborhoods grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that is transforming the city’s Tree Streets neighborhood downtown.

“This campaign challenges us to move beyond tired rhetoric about Lewiston and asks us to invest in what’s possible here,” said Nate Libby, the city’s director of economic and community development.

Mayor Carl Sheline said it’s more than a campaign. “It is a statement of confidence in our city’s future.” 

A lot of the presentation was focused on the future and what is still to come in the city.

City records show that the initial $34.2 million investment has cascaded into $174.9 million in private, federal, state and local investment between 2021-2024. In that same period, the city recorded $324.5 million in construction permits, leading to a citywide valuation increase of $1.17 billion.

“When investors see this amount of federal funding invested into a neighborhood like Tree Streets, and when they see our community meeting our challenges head-on, they’re more likely to invest in us,” Libby told the gathering.

Chris Kilmurry, executive director of Lewiston Housing, said four of the nine buildings in the 82-unit Wedgewood housing development between Walnut and Pine streets are complete and residents already moved in, with 73% of the units affordable housing.

The second phase of the Choice Neighborhood plan will break ground in April at 101 Pine St., the Dewitt housing complex — two, five-story buildings that will offer one- and two-bedroom apartments and a small grocery store in the bottom floor commercial space. While Kilmurry said they can’t yet disclose the parent company, he said it will serve the needs of residents who don’t drive, adding that plans include an expanded health center, a pharmacy and child care.

Hebert Construction is the lead contractor for the Wedgewood project. Simon Hebert, the company’s chief operating officer, was among the speakers Thursday. Hebert said they have incorporated local businesses in the project, hiring 31 local businesses as subcontractors, with 350 people having worked on the site.

“Before construction began, we held on-site career fairs, along with all of our awarded subcontractors to highlight the employment opportunities that were created as a result of this project,” Hebert said. “And by holding it on the job site, there was one way to acknowledge that this is stable, local work for a long period of time with ample opportunity.”

A potential setback is President Donald Trump’s recent move to stall $60 million in funding for affordable housing from HUD, along with other freezes in funding and staffing cuts at the agency.

Libby said it’s unclear how this will affect the $10.3 million from the Choice Neighborhoods grant earmarked for the project. Eight matching sources of funding make up the remainder of the $45.8 million cost. Libby said it could delay the start of the construction or force them to find additional funds.

Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Shanna Cox said, “We have all been part of conversations about the challenges our community is facing. This is Lewiston acknowledges those challenges and asks us to look at Lewiston in its entirety.”

“The economic momentum we are seeing is proof that when we invest in people and place, we create lasting change,” Sheline added. “Lewiston’s story is one of resilience and renewal, and we are ready for the next chapter.”

To learn more about This is Lewiston, visit the website at www.thisislewiston.org.