Community Commitment > FirstPark and the Community

A Bit Of History

FirstPark is an economic development project of the Kennebec Regional Development Authority (KRDA). KRDA was formed as a successor organization to The People of the Kennebec, itself a consortium of civic and community-minded organizations whose members included the Chambers of Commerce, economical development organizations, local businesses, banks, hospitals and educational institutions.

The common ground that gave impetus to The People of the Kennebec, and later KRDA, was regional economic development and job creation. With state leadership, the building of a series of "Super Parks" was identified as a critical step to facilitate business attraction. A competitive, state-wide grant application process ultimately led to Oakland as the site selected for the first Super Park – a 285 acre parcel now known as FirstPark.

The original projection was for up to 3,000 new jobs to be generated from business relocation/investment in FirstPark. This projection was over a 20-year period. Target industries include technology, information processing & storage, high-end service sectors, and alternative energy.

Such specialization minimizes competition from traditional industrial parks in the area and most importantly will provide the diversity, stability and vitality so critical to the sustained economic growth of the area.

Community Support

KRDA is comprised of 24 local communities that have committed to share costs and revenues for FirstPark development. We like to call this the “Power of 24” as, combined, these community municipal officials and state legislators provide an active voice in decisions that affect businesses is Maine. These 24 communities are represented on a General Assembly which is the policy-making and direction-setting body for activities related to FirstPark and KRDA.

In addition to our member communities, there are a number of local business groups, individuals, and organizations that also are a powerful business voice and will assist in any company relocation or expansion. These include the Kennebec Valley and Mid-Maine Chambers of Commerce, Kennebec Valley Council of Governments, Central Maine Growth Council, Maine & Company, and local business leaders.

These communities, organizations and individuals represent the team that will make your decision to locate your business in FirstPark efficient, energized and successful. When you’re ready, we’ll be ready!

The following table lists some basic information about the communities and organizations as well as links to home pages.

Member Communities

*Population figures based on 2009 Estimates; a “+” indicates positive growth trend.

**Average commuting distance to FirstPark from these communities is approximately 20 miles.

Support Organizations

Maine & Company

Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce

Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce

Central Maine Growth Council

Kennebec Valley Council of Governments

Maine Tourism

About FirstPark

FirstPark set the bar for business parks in Maine, incorporating innovative technology and infrastructure into its site plan. It is the only business park in Maine with a Verizon SmartPark® designation, and only one of a handful in the Northeast. This designation assures true redundancy and security, especially for businesses heavily reliant on technology. FirstPark is a 285 acre campus (150 buildable) of shovel-ready, pre-permitted sites with protective covenants. There are a total of 24 lots – 18 of which are still available. Six of these run parallel to I-95.

FirstPark provides

• Access to East Coast, National, Canadian and world-wide markets via nearby airports, seaports, rail and highway transportation systems.

• Access to a number of skilled, motivated workers.

• Access to the support of 24 communities in a two-county area who will work together to assure business success.

Access to recreational, educational, and cultural regions, facilities, events and downtowns that are both expected and surprising.