PRESS RELEASE
Daniel B. Stevenson appointed as next Executive Director of
the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority
Brunswick, Maine. For immediate release: February 20, 2025
Contact: Herman “Nick” Nichols (207) 841-4868 n-nichols@comcast.net
The Board of Trustees of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (“MRRA”) are pleased to announce Daniel Stevenson’s appointment as the next Executive Director of MRRA effective March 3, 2025.
Dan has extensive experience in economic and community development, land use, environmental management and real estate development. Prior to his appointment, Dan served as the Economic Development Director for the City of Westbrook ME since 2017. In Westbrook, he led downtown revitalization efforts, including Rock Row, Maine’s largest mixed-use development project, and Vertical Harvest, a vertical farming operation slated to grow 2 million pounds of produce a year. Prior to his tenure in Westbrook, Dan served as the Economic Development Director for the City of Biddeford, ME for seven years, during which he contributed to numerous revitalization projects.
Dan’s early career was spent with the Maine State government at the Department of Economic and Community Development and is regarded as an expert in tax increment financing laws, business development and finance programs. He received his B.A. and master’s degree in public policy and management at the University of Southern Maine. He is active professionally with the Economic Development Council of Maine, MEREDA and the Maine Municipal Association, Legislative Policy Committee.
“Dan’s experience in economic and community development, land use and environmental management are impressive, as are his skills in working with the public, local communities and other stakeholders. We are excited about Dan taking the helm at MRRA during this critical time” said Herman “Nick” Nichols, chair of the MRRA Board of Trustees. “We had a very competitive and impressive slate of candidates and believe that Dan has the requisite experience, compassion and enthusiasm to continue to move the redevelopment of the former Navy base forward” added Nichols.
About his new role, Dan said “I am thrilled to join MRRA and build on its redevelopment success, strengthening our role as a key economic driver for the region and state. I look forward to working alongside the team at MRRA and local community leaders to seize immediate opportunities and plan for long-term growth and resilience.”
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The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) is a public municipal corporation established by the Maine State Legislature to implement the Reuse Master Plans for both the former Naval Air Station Brunswick (NASB) and the Topsham Annex, as they have been set forth by both the Brunswick Local Redevelopment Authority (BLRA) and the Topsham Local Redevelopment Authority (TLRA).
MRRA was statutorily created in 2007 and is overseen by an 11-member board of trustees – who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Maine Senate.
MRRA’s statutory mission is to:
- Implement the Reuse Master Plans for NASB and Topsham Annex;
- Manage the transition of base properties from military to civilian uses;
- Redevelop former base properties to create new high-quality jobs; and
- Actively engage the private sector in the redevelopment effort.
Since the former Naval Air Station Brunswick, now known as Brunswick Landing, (Maine’s Center for Innovation) closed in 2011, the MRRA managed redevelopment effort has seen remarkable success. Recognized as a national leader in its reuse accomplishments, Brunswick Landing currently employs over 2,800 people with over 150 innovative businesses. The hallmarks of the Brunswick Landing campus include: Brunswick Executive Airport, a full-service public executive airport; TechPlace, a state-of-the -art technology business incubator; a multi-entity college campus; and over 750 housing units. In addition, MRRA manages an electric grid (from renewable sources), serving over 400 customers. A central tenant of the redevelopment effort is to manage all its assets in an environmentally sustainable and safe fashion.
