You know it when you see it, “Anywhere USA.” Towns that should have their own character and sense of place; but instead are confused by a reckless abundance of asphalt parking lots, big box stores, and grids of housing.

What are these communities thinking? – That’s what The Orton Family Foundation asked themselves when they decided to start a five year initiative to help move community planning back into the hands of citizens. Announced in July the Orton Family Foundation is starting with support of 4 communities efforts to rebuild and protect their towns, two of which are in Maine.

Biddeford and Damariscotta will each receive $100,000 in funding to help them start re-claiming their towns. As more and more people are realizing that the current norm is not working and the skills we once possessed like farming, nutrition and living within are means are all but being buried by our grand capitalist dreams, some are looking to past for answers and some are looking to the future for change.

Read The Orton Family Foundation’s new release here.