Economic Development Projects
This page summarizes and provides information on Town lead projects regarding year-round economic development and tourism management efforts that are underway, ongoing, or completed.
Projects Underway
The majority of the following projects are listed within the Town's 2025 Workplan.
Certain Transient Lodging Accommodation Moratorium Ordinance (Lodging Moratorium)
Strategy 1: Address the Immediate Needs of the Moratorium: Manage Lodging Uses
The Planning Department, as stated in the 2025 Workplan, is tasked with collecting data to address the concerns in Lodging Moratorium.
- Moratorium Ordinance Language (uploaded 03.28.2025)
- Updated Moratorium Language (effective July 31, 2025)
- Data collection overview and roadmap (uploaded 02.18.2025)
- Updated Moratorium Timeline (uploaded 05.01.2025)
- Workshop #2 (March 27, 2025) Meeting recording (uploaded 04.09.2025)
- MDI Historical Society presentation starts at: 04:50
- Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce presentation starts at: 31:17
- Workshop #2: Staff Discussion Guidance Slides (uploaded 03.27.2025)
- Workshop #2: MDI Historical Society Presentation (uploaded 03.28.2025)
- Workshop #2: Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Presentation (Trends in Tourism Economy) (uploaded 03.27.2025)
- Maine Office of Tourism 2023 Economic Impact & Visitor Tracking Report (uploaded 03.28.2025)
- Maine Office of Tourism Downeast & Acadia 2023 Economic Impact & Visitor Tracking Report (uploaded 03.28.2025)
- Workshop #3: Staff Discussion Slides (uploaded 05.01.2025)
- Workshop #4: Data Analysis Presentation (uploaded 9.8.2025 and updated 10.7.2025)
- Workshop #4 (Part 2): Extra Materials Based on Data Presented on 9.8.2025 (uploaded 9.18.25)
- Workshop #5: Public Works Capacity Presentation (Water and Wastewater/Sewer) (uploaded 10.14.25)
- Meeting recording (start at 50:50)
Sustainable Tourism Management
Strategy 2: Develop a Sustainable Tourism Management Strategy
The Planning Department will work with the Sustainable Tourism Management Taskforce to create a Sustainable Tourism Management Strategy based on the following four pillars:
- Equity
- Sustainability
- Efficiency
- Resilience.
The Town also hopes to hire consulting services to aid the creation of the Sustainable Tourism Management Strategy to balance economic vitality with community well-being.