Juice: Powering the Creative Economy
Creative Economy Conference: November 16th and 17th. Camden and Rockland, Maine!
Visit: www.juiceconference.org
Juice Rocks The Knox Mill
New energy powers the creative economy!
On a sunny afternoon on May 29, nearly 70 people gathered under the crankshaft and flywheels of what was the old, gutted Sea Dog in the Knox Mill to hear more about Juice—the upcoming conference sponsored by the folks behind Midcoast Magnet. Juice is a conference designed to generate energy, to be a conductor for ideas and action. Taking place November 16 and 17, 2007 in Rockland and Camden, Juice will connect elements of the creative economy to spark growth and prosperity.
The Knox Mill, a physical reminder of the industrial era, was the perfect place to discuss the innovative changes we will soon be seeing in the midcoast. With the waterfall roaring outside, all you had to do is look around. Owner Walter Skayhan listened to a community that didn’t want 75% of Camden’s commercial space to be reserved for just condominium owners—not when the increasing gentrification of the midcoast and lack of opportunities to retain young professionals were threatening to turn the vibrancy and diversity of this community into a part-time—not year-round place to live. As a result, Skayhan turned this historic landmark into a mixed-use building that will benefit the entire community. Already, Mathew and Colleen Ingraham have turned the former restaurant, Natalie’s into Tavern on the Falls and coming up in July, will transform the iconic former Sea Dog space into McMahon’s Knox Grille.
What else? The former MBNA offices are now sunny condos with the promise of Knox Mill Market Place, a ground-floor indoor market the community has been hungering for, opening soon with a bakery, florist, grocery, deli, wine bar, newstand and cafe to name a few.
Change (they say) comes from within. From the initial unveiling of Juice, already 50 people have volunteered to be part of this conference. The energy of the midcoast community has always been there, raring to go, willing to embrace technology, innovation, out-of-the box ideas in order to jolt the creative economy we have developed here. We just needed some big changes from businesses, investors, leaders and perhaps even just more time—to match the momentum of the people.
Now we’ve got it, with Juice. On November 16, a keynote address at the Strand Theatere will kick off the conference’s mission: to galvanize and grow Maine’s creative industries (both new and traditional) by:
· Attracting and retain creative workers in Maine.
· Fostering innovation as well as tolerance and diversity in our communities.
· Enhancing and promote Maine as an arts and culture destination.
· Protecting and enhancing Maine’s natural beauty and environment, in ways that support the growth of the creative economy.
How, you say? On November 17, the conference itself is the conduit. The audience will be largely made up of leaders in the creative economy statewide. Juice expects to attract more than 500 people such as artists, artisans and creative thinkers, owners and managers of creative businesses, economic, cultural and community development professionals, public policy makers, political leaders, researchers and students in related disciplines.
i.e: You.
Currently, Juice is reaching out to more than 20 communities in focus group formats to create buzz and develop the conference program and is in the process of fundraising and looking for donors who believe in the idea results of the creative economy.
The conference will be ultimately about connections, getting people to take action in specific ways to spark the growth and innovative business that our community needs to make it affordable to live here.
What can you do for now? Juice needs volunteers before the conference happens. You can also support the conference by planning on attending, or considering becoming a donor or business sponsor.
Email kathleen@juiceconference.org
Juice is a Midcoast Magnet program.
Visit: www.juiceconference.org
Juice Rocks The Knox Mill
New energy powers the creative economy!
On a sunny afternoon on May 29, nearly 70 people gathered under the crankshaft and flywheels of what was the old, gutted Sea Dog in the Knox Mill to hear more about Juice—the upcoming conference sponsored by the folks behind Midcoast Magnet. Juice is a conference designed to generate energy, to be a conductor for ideas and action. Taking place November 16 and 17, 2007 in Rockland and Camden, Juice will connect elements of the creative economy to spark growth and prosperity.
The Knox Mill, a physical reminder of the industrial era, was the perfect place to discuss the innovative changes we will soon be seeing in the midcoast. With the waterfall roaring outside, all you had to do is look around. Owner Walter Skayhan listened to a community that didn’t want 75% of Camden’s commercial space to be reserved for just condominium owners—not when the increasing gentrification of the midcoast and lack of opportunities to retain young professionals were threatening to turn the vibrancy and diversity of this community into a part-time—not year-round place to live. As a result, Skayhan turned this historic landmark into a mixed-use building that will benefit the entire community. Already, Mathew and Colleen Ingraham have turned the former restaurant, Natalie’s into Tavern on the Falls and coming up in July, will transform the iconic former Sea Dog space into McMahon’s Knox Grille.
What else? The former MBNA offices are now sunny condos with the promise of Knox Mill Market Place, a ground-floor indoor market the community has been hungering for, opening soon with a bakery, florist, grocery, deli, wine bar, newstand and cafe to name a few.
Change (they say) comes from within. From the initial unveiling of Juice, already 50 people have volunteered to be part of this conference. The energy of the midcoast community has always been there, raring to go, willing to embrace technology, innovation, out-of-the box ideas in order to jolt the creative economy we have developed here. We just needed some big changes from businesses, investors, leaders and perhaps even just more time—to match the momentum of the people.
Now we’ve got it, with Juice. On November 16, a keynote address at the Strand Theatere will kick off the conference’s mission: to galvanize and grow Maine’s creative industries (both new and traditional) by:
· Attracting and retain creative workers in Maine.
· Fostering innovation as well as tolerance and diversity in our communities.
· Enhancing and promote Maine as an arts and culture destination.
· Protecting and enhancing Maine’s natural beauty and environment, in ways that support the growth of the creative economy.
How, you say? On November 17, the conference itself is the conduit. The audience will be largely made up of leaders in the creative economy statewide. Juice expects to attract more than 500 people such as artists, artisans and creative thinkers, owners and managers of creative businesses, economic, cultural and community development professionals, public policy makers, political leaders, researchers and students in related disciplines.
i.e: You.
Currently, Juice is reaching out to more than 20 communities in focus group formats to create buzz and develop the conference program and is in the process of fundraising and looking for donors who believe in the idea results of the creative economy.
The conference will be ultimately about connections, getting people to take action in specific ways to spark the growth and innovative business that our community needs to make it affordable to live here.
What can you do for now? Juice needs volunteers before the conference happens. You can also support the conference by planning on attending, or considering becoming a donor or business sponsor.
Email kathleen@juiceconference.org
Juice is a Midcoast Magnet program.