[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16469]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        LEWISTON'S RECOGNITION AS ONE OF TEN ALL-AMERICAN CITIES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL H. MICHAUD

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 19, 2007

  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the fact 
that Lewiston, Maine, has been recognized as 1 of 10 All-American 
Cities by the National Civic League.
  Lewiston truly embodies both dynamic change and proud tradition and 
is extremely deserving of this award. Located in my congressional 
district in Maine, the city of Lewiston was first settled in 1770 by 
Franco-American and Acadian settlers, who came to Lewiston to find 
employment in the mills powered by the nearby Androscoggin River. 
Textile mills flourished as women from the surrounding countryside came 
for employment opportunities. The city continued to grow and expand, 
and by the 1950s, Lewiston had become the State's primary manufacturing 
center.
  Unfortunately, the subsequent decline of textile manufacturing led to 
unemployment, decreased wages, and a need for new ideas and new 
industries. In the 1990s, the city began to focus on new downtown 
construction, bold development strategies, improved post-secondary 
educational prospects, expanded health care, and new cultural events. 
In 1992, the town acquired the Bates mill and redeveloped 500,000 
square feet of space. Lewiston also joined in a partnership with 
Auburn, ME, for economic development, busing, 911 services and drinking 
water. In the downtown area, the Southern Gateway project established 
Maine's first fully-fiber optic community for telephone, cable and 
broadband services. University of Southern Maine has begun a new 
expansion which makes the Lewiston-Auburn College the fastest growing 
campus within the University of Maine system, while Bates College has 
been recognized as a best value college by a national publication.
  Since 2003, Lewiston has invested $20 million in affordable housing 
to provide opportunities for families, and since 2000, it has seen $350 
million in new business construction.
  Today, Lewiston is thriving. It is home to almost 36,000 residents, 
and it is clear that her citizens are working together with great pride 
to continue building the community. Local institutions are deeply 
involved in helping Lewiston to grow and evolve. The Androscoggin 
Leadership Institute is helping the community to understand its current 
and future needs and find new opportunities for individuals to 
contribute. The local Thongragg Nature Center Project is now the 
largest bird sanctuary within New England; volunteers there ensure safe 
access to 5 miles of recreational trails. And since the city is now 
home to a large Somali community, the group United Somali Women of 
Maine has created a DVD that stresses the importance of education, 
changing roles of women, and the commitment to preserving their culture 
for the youth of Lewiston.
  It is clear that Lewiston today is a center of business, 
volunteerism, education, environmental action, and diversity. The 
citizens are mindful of their proud traditions, and have made something 
very special in Lewiston, ME. Their achievements are truly something to 
commemorate, and I congratulate the city of Lewiston for their 
achievements and for the well-deserved recognition of this award.

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