Economic development is an elusive goal

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    A popular Facebook page about the town of Dexter cropped up a while back, and I readily joined the 900-plus members. I live only nine miles from the community and we do most of our shopping there.

    But like in most small towns, our choices are somewhat limited. We can buy groceries, hardware, casual clothing, prescription drugs, tires, building supplies and animal feed. But the nearest office supply outlet or major department store is in Bangor.
    During the interviews with the six candidates for town council last week, everyone said that their top priority was economic development. They want to bring business into town. For that matter, who doesn’t?
    When I worked at the old Eastern Gazette in the late 1980s, Dexter Shoe was going full speed. Ben Franklin’s, Reed’s Clothing Store and Townsend Jewelers were thriving on Main Street.  Dexter Shoe also had a retail store in the shopping mall.
    Years after Ben Franklin’s faded into the sunset, Mr. Paperback opened in the space. I really miss that store. I’d buy greeting cards, gifts and the Boston Globe there at least two or three times a week. They also had huge tables filled with books at 50 percent off.
    So Dexter, like many other small towns, has plenty of room to bring in small businesses. But there are two major challenges: finding the right fit for the community and encouraging people to support it.
    Fossa’s General Store is one of the Dexter success stories. It not only revitalized an old store, but serves as an outlet for dozens of local farmers, bakers and craftspeople.
    The old Eastern Gazette now has a new building, the All-Aboard Restaurant opened to rave reviews in the old Agway store and there’s a new Dunkin’ Donuts on Church Street. These businesses obviously have faith in the community; otherwise, they wouldn’t have made an investment in it.
    But one medium-sized town I frequently visit has spent millions on new street lights, sidewalks and shrubbery. But the only new businesses it seems to have attracted are secondhand stores and tattoo parlors.
    I have nothing against either one. You can save big bucks in a secondhand shop and two of my grown kids have tattoos. But they’re not for everybody.
    One problem with today’s economy is that families don’t have a lot of disposable income. Once you fill the oil tank, pay your property taxes and stock up on groceries, there isn’t a lot left over.
    People’s buying habits have changed, too. Reed’s Clothing probably couldn’t survive in today’s world because fewer people are wearing dress clothes. The only time I wear a jacket and tie nowadays is when I go to the Masons or a formal business luncheon. And that’s only about five or six times a year.
    So there is no economic development magic wand for small and medium-sized towns. Some entrepreneurs are willing to take a risk. Others are more conservative. If you can figure out what people need and are willing to support, then you’ll be successful.
    But if anyone decides to open a Mr. Paperback-type store again, you’ll certainly get my business.
    Mike Lange is a staff writer with the Piscataquis Observer. His opinions are his own and don’t necessarily reflect those of this newspaper.