Business View Civil and Municipal | March 2021

152 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL MARCH 2021 W estbrook, Maine is a suburb city west of Portland, with a proud identity all its own. Rather than sitting back in the shadow of the nearby urban center, this former mill City has grown significantly, over the last two decades, to become a residential hub and business center for the region. Westbrook benefits from having two exits located on the Maine Turnpike and only minutes from the Portland International Jetport. Westbrook makes an ideal ‘home base’ to live and do business in the Southern Maine, Greater Portland area due to its close proximity to lakes, beaches, and mountains. Although adjacent to Portland, Westbrook has always had its own economic base. City Administrator, Jerre Bryant, explains, “Westbrook was an industrialized area of Greater Portland and self-sufficient in a way that most suburbs weren’t when it comes to employment and other factors where they rely on a nearby city. While mill towns across the region have seen a declining economic base since the 1980s, Westbrook has aggressively pursued and built its new economy through renovation of some mill facilities and development of business parks within the city. At the same time, it has become an attractive residential location.” Westbrook also has a growing life sciences & biotech sector with several national and international headquarters located in the city. According to Mayor, Michael Foley, “IDEXX Laboratories, a global leader in veterinary diagnostics, software, and water AT A GLANCE WESTBROOK, MAINE WHAT: Attractive small city for residential and business; population 20,000 WHERE: Greater Portland Area, southern Maine WEBSITE: www.westbrookmaine.com ine Planning for prosperity