Ellsworth is situated at the head of navigation on the Union River and is a major crossing point for highways, hence its motto “Crossroads of downeast Maine”. As the shire town of Hancock County, Ellsworth is the administrative and commercial hub of Downeast Maine. The motto is also appropriate because the city successfully merges a high quality of life with a growing business climate.  Ellsworth is gaining in popularity; it provides good soil for new business. As you think about a business move to the area, you may have the following questions.

• Will the economy of Ellsworth provide a base whereby my business can succeed?
• What are the business needs, both in retail and service industries of the area?
• Will Ellsworth provide a high quality of life for my family and me?
• Will my children receive quality education?

Ellsworth can supply all these things and more. The area provides for incoming businesses as well as opportunities for growth in companies already here. Our environment is healthy for businesses and families.

The City of Ellsworth is small enough to allow businesses to build customer relationships based on trust and friendliness, and large enough to maintain reasonable profits. Besides being the County seat with its attendant governmental and legal functions, Ellsworth is also the trading, banking, and dining center for Hancock County and parts of the neighboring counties. The major towns in the Greater Ellsworth Area are Blue Hill, Bar Harbor, Castine, Deer Isle, Franklin, Hancock, Lamoine, Sorrento, Stonington, Sullivan, Surry, and Trenton. It also remains below the national average in cost of living. It is our hope that the information contained within this website will provide you with a starting point from which these questions can be answered. We encourage you to contact the business development resources listed in the resource section for more detailed information.