The Bowdoinham Community Development Initiative, BCDI, aims to build on Bowdoinham's wonderful assets to make the town an even better place to live and work. Focusing on farms, food, forests, the music and art that accompany them and the businesses that support them, BCDI has established the capacity to provide local capital to address local needs. Our starting point is an innovative loan/investment opportunity process linking small enterprises in Bowdoinham to neighbors who want to invest in a local undertaking that will benefit the individual and the community.  The proposed loans are very low interest with flexible repayment terms tailored to meet the specific needs and capacities of the beneficiary. Each loan application is reviewed by a volunteer screening committee of community members who make a recommendation to the BCDI Board. The Board's approval will trigger a solicitation of the required funds from BCDI Members – neighbors investing in neighbors. BCDI's overarching goal is to support and strengthen the community's businesses and engagement in sustainable, healthy living.

Starting with a handful of community members and a less than fully fledged idea, in three years BCDI has grown to a solid non-profit community organization: membership has pushed over 110; the Town has now twice included modest support on the Warrant at Town Meeting (in 2015 that article was adopted unanimously); over $66,000 in loans have been disbursed supported by over 30 investors, and all loans due have been fully repaid. Neighbors are truly investing in neighbors, to the benefit of all.

But there are challenges ahead that will test BCDI’s ability to build on its community engagement and will require additional resources, both human and financial. These fall in two main categories: 1) the transition of ownership of over 1000 acres of current farmland in the near future; and 2) the redevelopment of the center of the Town. The BCDI Board (now 8 strong) believes we can help address both of these challenges in the spirit of BCDI’s mission.

BCDI is well positioned to help Bowdoinham maintain its farmland and increase its productivity. Exactly what shape that help will take is currently being considered. At a minimum, BCDI will draw on its solid relationship with all concerned - the farming community, land owners, Maine Farmland Trust, Local Farms-Local Food, Land for Good, the Merrymeeting Food Council, the Town Manager’s Office - to facilitate thoughtful and transparent communications and constructive solutions to issues as they arise. Bowdoinham can be both an integral part of, and a model for, a small farming community’s engagement in expanding the local food system. We have been most thankful for NEGEF’s support over the past two years as we have become established. As BCDI takes this further step forward, we would very much appreciate NEGEF’s continued support.