Impact
...helping people shape the future of western Maine.

Dear Friends:

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Western Mountains Alliance.

Twenty years ago, terms like the “Internet”, “email” and “global economy” had yet to be coined but with changes in its traditional businesses and new ideas about how to manage natural resources, western Maine was already feeling the impacts of a world beyond its borders.  With tremendous foresight, a group of community, business and environmental leaders realized the significance of western Maine not as a collection of small independent communities, but as a region that shared a common history and set of values.

The concept of the Western Mountains Alliance was born from that belief. Its underpinnings as an organization that would support connectivity and collaboration are even more important today. With thanks to the dozens of inspired leaders, organizations and volunteers who have partnered with us, we are pleased to introduce our first annual report and a study of the Western Mountains Alliance’s impact over the past two decades.

As a small organization, we rely on partnerships to carry out our work.  The process of preparing these reports have provided an opportunity to celebrate the wealth of individuals and organizations that are working together for the region, and pause for reflection as we think about new directions for the coming year, and the next twenty.

We hope you will join us in both the celebration and the reflection.  Send us your thoughts, comments, impressions and ideas.  And most of all, thank you for helping to shape the future of western Maine.

With best regards,

Tanya Swain
Executive Director
tswain@westernmountainsalliance.org