Port Mile Ready to Make a Splash in Maine

Port Mile LLC is excited to announce the launch of a new charity sports event coming to Portland, Maine, on August 13 , 2016. The one mile open water ocean swim will be a benefit for the popular nonprofit group Friends of Fort Gorges.

The friends group has recently partnered with the City of Portland and secured funding to implement a preservation plan for the fort. The city will be sponsoring the event and assisting by defraying the costs of permitting and site rental fees at East End Beach. “We’re proud to have a public/private partnership with the Friends of Fort Gorges so that we can work together to preserve this untapped treasure in Casco Bay,” said Portland City Manager Jon Jennings. “The launch of this event is a great way to assist with the financial undertaking necessary to help realize our effort. We’re pleased to sponsor and hope it’s a great success.”

Bangor Savings Bank has signed on as the first corporate sponsor of the event. “Bangor Savings Bank is pleased to sponsor this new event which will benefit the Friends of Fort Gorges to help preserve this important piece of history”, said Stacey Haskell, Vice President and Marketing & Community Relations Manager for Bangor Savings Bank.

The Greater Portland Convention & Visitors Bureau , a nonprofit destination marketing organization

whose mission it is to grow travel and tourism in our region, is assisting with marketing and public relations to drive out of state participation. “With open water swimming competitions rapidly growing across the world, we see this as a huge draw to our region. Furthermore, there is the added benefit of raising funds for the preservation and future use of Fort Gorges which will add to the growing list of reasons people come and spend their money in Maine! It’s a win/win for the local travel industry

and all of the businesses affected by tourism.” – Elissa English, Director of Sales and Marketing Port Mile LLC owner Paul Drinan is excited about the event’s fundraising potential and knows better than most the financial needs of the fort project. Drinan has been volunteering for the friends group

for two years as its executive director and as the project grows, so do its funding needs. “The one mile swim is an increasingly popular format and I see this event as fun way to draw much needed attention to the fort and its increasing need for intervention. This swim could become a signature event for the city of Portland and benefit not only the fort, but the hotels, restaurants, shops, etc.

Once the fort is more accessible, we’d love to see this swim utilize the fort in some way.” said Drinan.

In its inaugural year, registration for the event will be capped at 100. The swim will be sanctioned by the World Open Water Swimming Association or “WOWSA”, the world governing body for open water swim events. Port Mile has secured approval from the US Coast Guard and the Harbor Master.

Maine Island Trail Association and Portland Paddle will lend a hand with kayak volunteer staffing. Port Mile is seeking sponsorships at several levels and is also asking for volunteer assistance.

For more information about Friends of Fort Gorges please email info@friendsoffortgorges.org For more information about Port Mile please email info@portmile.com or call 207-615-5202.