Our Town Belfast Announces New Executive Director

The Our Town Belfast Board of Directors is excited to announce Amanda Cunningham as our new Executive Director effective immediately. Amanda brings nearly 20 years of varied project management experience to our Main Street organization. She will continue to add to the significant growth accomplished over the last 12 years with investments from the municipal, business, public and private sectors. One of the board’s goals was to find a well-rounded leader to honor the positive growth of the organization over time and move forward to the next phase. Another goal was to identify the individual who could be the new face of the organization, support new opportunities and initiatives, to grow and sustain our vibrant historic downtown. The board believes in Amanda’s varied background that includes public speaking and networking, sales, presentations, marketing, promotion, event execution, grant writing and fundraising. “Amanda brings to Main Street a diverse background that will enhance an already robust organization. We look forward to seeing her succeed in furthering Our Town Belfast’s Mission!”, said Ryan Otis, Member of the OTB Board of Directors, owner of Rollie’s Bar and Grill and Rollie’s Remote Catering.

“Not only does Amanda join the organization with extensive experience around promotion and community building, she understands and embraces the eclectic history and evolution of Belfast, which is where she grew up. As Belfast continues to not only be a place where we work, live, and love, but a destination spot as well, it’s vital that we not lose sight of what makes Belfast unique and relevant. Having hometown roots here, it’s clear that this mission is something that Amanda takes pride in and will work to preserve,” said Shannon Coombs, Secretary and Member of the OTB Board of Directors, Chair of the OTB Promotions Committee and Vice President at Bank of America.

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, 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. “Our Town Belfast and a dynamic Executive Director are critical to the support for the downtown area and the City of Belfast and we are excited to welcome and work with Amanda Cunningham,” said Mike Hurley, longtime City Councilor, Entrepreneur and Co-Owner of the iconic, historic Colonial Theater.

“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, that has become a destination, unlike the drive-by it was when I was growing up!” “The Our Town Belfast organization would like to acknowledge the forward thinking of the City of Belfast 12 years ago when they made the decision to embrace and support Economic Development. They agreed to support three entities that were in effect like the three legs of a stool. They hired an Economic Development Director, (Thomas Kittridge), and committed to investing some sustaining financial support to the Belfast Area and Beyond Chamber of Commerce and Our Town Belfast, a Main Street Organization. This continued investing has been instrumental in the transformation of downtown Belfast,” Mary Mortier Chair of the OTB Board of Directors, City Councilor and Realtor®.

OUR TOWN BELFAST is a community-driven and nationally accredited Main Street organization whose mission is to grow and sustain our historic downtown while celebrating our unique cultural heritage. We believe in supporting local businesses, honoring our heritage through historic preservation, and bringing together the community to make downtown Belfast a better place to live, work and play.

Our Town Belfast envisions a vibrant future in which our waterfront, commercial district, treasured historic buildings, and outdoor public spaces are alive with activity.

For more information, please visit: https://www.ourtownbelfast.org