Building Livability in New Gloucester
-- a grassroots initative
Julie fralich

The seeds for growing New Gloucester into an age-friendly community were first planted when the town updated its Comprehensive Plan in 2021.  This Plan included as a goal “to promote an age-friendly livable community that is a healthy, active and safe place to live, work, play and age.” The data presented during the planning process, and from the M-Dash project, provided initial hints that there was work to be done. Perhaps most alarmingly, the data showed that while our population aged between 65 and 75 was increasing dramatically, people over the age of 80 were not staying in the community. 

While the updated Plan called for the creation of an age-friendly committee, the town was not initially prepared to commit staff time, town resources or establish a committee to explore and implement age-friendly measures and initiatives.  BLING was thus formed as a grassroots volunteer group that was loosely organized, democratically led and composed of highly motivated volunteers with an expansive and complementary set of skills. 

From the outset, we decided to occupy the “volunteer” age-friendly space and tackle those projects where we had some modicum of control or influence – while still advocating for age-friendly policies, practices and programs at the municipal level. That turned out to be the best decision we could have made: it allowed us to be nimble, flexible and responsive. 

We dug in, put on our work gloves, formed a core team, nurtured each other, cultivated the soil with ideas from other towns, and tended our tentative projects - our seedlings - as they grew from concept to reality. 

We learned to:

PREPARE THE SOIL

Although we had our own ideas of ways to make the town more age-friendly, we thought it important to ask the community what they identified as the most pressing needs and issues. 

Relying heavily on the work done by AARP and other towns, we developed a community survey in 2022 that was posted on our local media site NGX, and widely distributed as a paper copy at the town hall, library, and community events. 

This approach helped BLING take root as a recognized group with a “branded” name that was critical for establishing our credibility within the town and the community.

The results of the survey were shared at a listening session in March 2023 where residents were able to engage in small group discussion, brainstorm possible solutions and add their voice to the call for age-friendly programs and policies. This was another critical step in being accepted and acknowledged as a serious group within the community.

Using the results from the survey and input from the community, we formed subgroups to tackle four major areas: Housing and Home Repair; Getting Around Safely and Easily; Health, Wellness and Community Support; and Communication. 

USE THE TOOLS AT HAND 

As we explored projects for implementation, we used a few guiding principles: First, we relied heavily on the experience of age-friendly communities in Maine and across the country. Second, we partnered where possible with others. And third, we looked for “low-hanging fruit” – projects that could be easily implemented by volunteers, without the need for funding or town support.

Our first community project was one of high impact and high feasibility: 

Smoke Detector Implementation  In November 2023, we recruited local volunteers and partnered with the Red Cross and the New Gloucester Fire & Rescue Department to inspect and install smoke detectors in 30 homes in the area. The recipients of the new smoke detectors greatly appreciated the help with this critical safety program.

Another initiative was one of low cost and broad reach:

Pace Car Program  In the survey and at the listening session, people had expressed great concern about speeding around town and the need for safer roads for pedestrians and bikers. We learned about a Pace Car Program, in which citizens voluntarily agree to follow the posted speed limit.  We started a similar program in New Gloucester, the first of its kind in Maine. Over 200 drivers have since signed a pledge to drive the posted speed limit, share the road with walkers and bikers, stop for pedestrians; and not talk on the phone or text, drive and drink, or yell at others while driving. We have Pace Car stickers that can be seen on cars driving around town.

And as we’ve nurtured these smaller projects, we have also launched two ambitious programs:

New Gloucester Rides, A Volunteer Transportation Program, was started in August 2024 and provides rides for New Gloucester residents to medical and dental appointments within a 30-mile radius. This program was greatly enhanced by the availability of the Assisted Rides software provided at no cost by Lifelong Maine. 

GNG Community Connectors We were fortunate in September 2024 to be selected, in partnership with the Town of Gray and their recreation department, as a Community Connections Programs pilot site.  This program has significantly broadened our impact, as we bring people together, respond to their needs, and connect them to community resources and services. 

CULTIVATE RELATIONSHIPS 

Throughout this journey, we have developed relationships with many organizations, including the Gray and New Gloucester food pantries and libraries, local churches, veterans organizations, emergency responders, and others.  

We continue to advocate for age-friendly policies and programs at the municipal level. Earlier this year, the town expanded the scope of the town’s Economic Development Committee to include “Community” and added an age-friendly goal to its mission statement. We now have a multi-pronged approach to building an age-friendly community:  BLING functions as a grassroots volunteer group, the New Gloucester Economic and Community Development Committee advances age-friendly ideas and projects within the municipal structure, and the GNG Recreation Departments and the Town of Gray strongly support age-friendly initiatives and offer wide-ranging programs.  

ENJOY AND SHARE WHAT YOU’VE GROWN 

Building an “organization” from the ground up has been daunting, rewarding, frustrating, exciting, energizing and FUN. We are a group of volunteers, organically formed, loosely organized, and fiercely committed to improving our town as a livable community. We’re happy to share our experiences with others as they cultivate their own grassroots organizations. For more information about BLING and its many projects, go to our website and facebook page.