The City’s Economic Development Plan and Comprehensive Plan address the issues of providing for the health and wellbeing of Ellsworth’s aging population through initiatives that target housing, safe neighborhoods, available healthcare, senior support services, goods, services and amenities (with a focus on pedestrian friendly areas), social integration and transportation.

The City of Ellsworth has focused on being progressive, rather than reactive, and reached out early to encourage investment from developers to provide senior housing as evidenced by two recent projects; the Leonard Lake Senior Housing complex and the Seaport Village Assisted Living facility. Additionally, ground breaking activities are underway to turn a 5 acre former school property (within walking distance of the aforementioned properties) into a park with senior and child friendly attributes including walking paths, covered seating areas, an outdoor amphitheater, children’s play area and ‘splash pad”. Yet again the renovation of another old former school building into a new Community/Senior Center is nearing completion forming a “senior friendly” campus of sorts, all within walking distance from senior friendly housing to: Downtown Ellsworth, the Ellsworth Public Library, all necessary services and amenities, restaurants, goods and services, social and cultural events and much more.