What We Do
Discover Lisbon (formerly Positive Change Lisbon) is a community development nonprofit focused on keeping the heart of our community - our downtown - vibrant. We host public events, support our small businesses, and partner with local nonprofits to make Lisbon a beautiful and welcoming community. Our annual events include: summer concerts, Harvest Festival, Merry Mainstreet, Father-Daughter Dance, and Mother-Son Dance.
Our Mission
Mission: To revitalize our downtown and overall community by bringing together the resources of citizens, local government, and business people in a cooperative setting. We want to expand on the positive aspects of our town and make Lisbon a more desirable place to live, work, and play by enlisting the help of a team of highly ambitious individuals who are driven by a clear vision of our future.
Vision: To serve as the guiding hand that transforms Lisbon into a thriving, community-focused town.
Values: We commit to community revitalization through partnership, inclusion, and supporting the community through voluntary service.
History
Ross Cunningham and Scott Benson (Town ECD) attended an annual gathering of the Maine Downtown Foundation in the spring of 2012. Other communities were honored at this event for their significant revitalization progress. In these prosperous areas, a group of people and business owners were coordinating with their local governments to bring about the change.
In an effort to strengthen the Town of Lisbon, Ross reached out to a number of civic and corporate leaders after this event. These folks came to the conclusion that a non-profit organization may conduct a number of town improvement projects in collaboration with the town council and endeavor to raise public knowledge of our community's excellent features.
Founded in October 2012, Positive Change Lisbon is a 501c3 non-profit organization as recognized by the IRS.
In an effort to strengthen the Town of Lisbon, Ross reached out to a number of civic and corporate leaders after this event. These folks came to the conclusion that a non-profit organization may conduct a number of town improvement projects in collaboration with the town council and endeavor to raise public knowledge of our community's excellent features.
Founded in October 2012, Positive Change Lisbon is a 501c3 non-profit organization as recognized by the IRS.
In 2024 Positive Change Lisbon became Discover Lisbon. Positive Change Lisbon originally set out to be used as a tool to encourage change in the community and to attract new businesses to increase economic growth. This mission proved successful, and the town changed dramatically as it took on new businesses and revitalized elements of the town that were preexisting. As Positive Change Lisbon had achieved many of its goals, it was decided that a name change would encourage more growth for the organization and town as a whole.
The shift to ‘Discover Lisbon’ was to represent the future goals of this organization. ‘Come discover what we’ve become’ became the new tagline that makes this organization stand out from others.
Discover Lisbon is an affiliate organization of Main Street America. It is the only affiliate organization with a paid director. Discover Lisbon and the town of Lisbon advocated for a director in an effort to fulfill the organization’s objective and carry on the excellent work that has already been done.
Discover Lisbon is an affiliate organization of Main Street America. It is the only affiliate organization with a paid director. Discover Lisbon and the town of Lisbon advocated for a director in an effort to fulfill the organization’s objective and carry on the excellent work that has already been done.