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A College Gives Back to the Town That Once Saved It

By  Julia Schmalz
September 11, 2019

Closed mills from a bygone era stand over Waterville, Me., like sullen sentries. They remind some townspeople and visitors of more-prosperous times. But when David A. Greene, president of Colby College, arrived on the campus, in 2013, he saw a dilapidated town with huge potential. With Greene’s leadership, the liberal-arts college has pulled together the community and investors, raised millions, and embarked on a major downtown revitalization. In 2018, Colby opened the Bill & Joan Alfond Main Street Commons, bringing 200 students to a new dormitory that contributed to the downtown’s revival. This summer the college broke ground on a boutique hotel. We visited Waterville to learn more about the many initiatives underway.

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Closed mills from a bygone era stand over Waterville, Me., like sullen sentries. They remind some townspeople and visitors of more-prosperous times. But when David A. Greene, president of Colby College, arrived on the campus, in 2013, he saw a dilapidated town with huge potential. With Greene’s leadership, the liberal-arts college has pulled together the community and investors, raised millions, and embarked on a major downtown revitalization. In 2018, Colby opened the Bill & Joan Alfond Main Street Commons, bringing 200 students to a new dormitory that contributed to the downtown’s revival. This summer the college broke ground on a boutique hotel. We visited Waterville to learn more about the many initiatives underway.

Julia Schmalz is a senior multimedia producer. She tells stories with photos, audio, and video. Follow her on Twitter @jschmalz09, or email her at julia.schmalz@chronicle.com.

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Julia Schmalz
Julia Schmalz is a senior multimedia producer. She tells stories with photos, audio, and video. Follow her on Twitter @jschmalz09.
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