WESTBROOK – A coalition that looks to get the wheels turning on downtown revitalization in Westbrook has been officially accepted as a Maine Downtown Network, but is still searching for a part-time coordinator.

The coalition’s leadership announced this week that as of Oct. 1, the group became the 20th Maine Downtown Network in the state, a program designed to begin a coordinated revitalization effort. Since early this year, roughly a dozen business and property owners have met regularly to move toward applying for the program.

Administered by the Maine Development Foundation, the initiative is based on a national model known as the Main Street program, but is a less-rigorous version. The organization describes the program as designed for communities that are relatively new to a revitalization effort.

Lee Hews, owner of Current Publishing on Main Street, which publishes the American Journal, and a member of the coalition’s three-person executive committee, said Tuesday that the group was notified of its accepted application last week.

“This is very exciting news for us and we will start to plan events, solidify our board and committees, and will undergo some formal training through the Maine Downtown Center later this year,” she said.

Coinciding with the application process, the coalition has conducted a search for a part-time coordinator, who will be paid to oversee the city’s Downtown Network. However, Hews said, after three “highly qualified” candidates were singled out, the coalition suffered a setback.

“In an interesting turn of events, all three candidates withdrew their application for various reasons, so we are conducting a second search,” she said. One withdrew for personal reasons, and the other two for other professional opportunities, she said.

The coalition must now restart the hiring process.

Joe O’Neil, also an executive committee member, called the accepted application “huge” for Westbrook, but said now that it’s official, there is a sense of urgency to “find the right candidate.”

“There’s no question there’s urgency behind the effort,” he said, adding that the coalition has rededicated itself to finding a coordinator. “We want to make sure that with the designation in place, there’s progress.”

Bill Baker, Westbrook’s assistant city administrator for business and community relations, who first organized a meeting of downtown business owners to discuss revitalization, said Tuesday that he is “thrilled beyond words that the Maine Downtown Center has selected us to join their network communities.”

“I think this is a big positive step for our downtown,” he said, adding that he’s confident that the group will find a coordinator to take the helm.

“Under the direction of the downtown executive committee and coalition members, we will find our first coordinator and I remain confident that our best days lay ahead,” he said.

Hews said the group’s next moves, in addition to hiring a coordinator, include selecting an official name for the coalition and planning a kickoff event. She added that the event is slated to be a “holiday-related event for local businesses.”

In August, prior to the official application process, representatives of the Maine Development Foundation walked Main Street with coalition members to get a sense of the community, and point out assets and challenges associated with the downtown district.

Lorain Francis, senior program coordinator for the Maine Development Foundation, said during the meeting that Westbrook was a “unique” community for the organization.

“You’re a little different,” Francis said. “You’re a little more urban, and kind of have a different southern Maine feel. I’m excited about it.”