OUR TOWN BELFAST
Executive Director, Amanda Cunningham: As a Belfast native who was raised during a time when many downtown storefronts were closed and business prospects were slim, Amanda left for college in pursuit of opportunities not available here at that time. After graduating from the University of Maine at Farmington, she traveled, worked and acquired experience in Boston, Austin, Portland, and Minneapolis, then returned to settle in Portland, got married and began a family. Due to changing family commitments, when the time came there was no hesitation in making the decision to return to Belfast. In addition, it was important to Amanda to raise her child in the safe, inviting community that raised her, with the caring people that make up this wonderful city. Having experienced the vitality of other cities, Amanda was thrilled when she returned to Belfast to find it was experiencing an exciting, unique vibrancy that was refreshing and welcoming.
Most recently as the Marketing Director and Community Coordinator at the “Y”, Amanda became involved with community organizations and events both professionally and as a volunteer. In those capacities she became familiar with the mission, values and vision of Our Town Belfast. OTB believes in supporting and promoting local businesses, unique shops, restaurants, outdoor spaces, and events, while honoring our heritage through historic preservation, bringing the community together, in order to make downtown Belfast a more interactive place to live, work and play.
“I am thrilled to support my hometown and am looking forward to meeting everyone, listening to your needs and seeing what I can do to support you,” said new Executive Director, Amanda Cunningham. “I am proud and excited to be part of the OTB organization and contributing to the growing vitality of our downtown, which has become a destination, unlike the drive-by it was when I was growing up!”