The issues facing Biddeford are, at their roots, similar to what many Maine communities have had to face. An economy that once boomed, thanks to a single form of manufacturing and services to support it, went bust as that monolithic industry collapsed or moved to more prosperous locations. In Biddeford that industry was textile manufacturing and its production mills.

Many of the workers that settled in the area were of French Canadian descent, moving south from Quebec to fill the once-plentiful mill jobs and bringing their work ethic as well as their culture as they settled the area. Pride in this heritage can still be seen in Biddeford’s annual La Kermesse Festival celebrating Franco-American culture.

After the collapse of the textile mills in the area, the local economy suffered greatly. With no major employer in town, many of the laborers began moving away to look for new employment. Some stayed in the area and found employment in the Greater Portland market at the expanding mall complex. Population in Biddeford began to decline in the 1970s as support businesses continued to close.  Biddeford’s role in the service sector eroded along with its ability to provide gainful employment through the closed mills. In many ways, Biddeford became a commuter/bedroom community serving the Portland job market, which helped the city's population rebound by almost six percent from 1990-1999. Beginning in the 1960’s, the region had begun developing its first industrial parks as a start to diversifying the economy.

In 1987, the Maine Energy Recovery Company (MERC) plant, which creates energy by burning trash, opened within eyesight of Biddeford’s town hall as another effort to bring new industry to the city.  MERC has been an issue for the downtown area ever since, as its unsightly presence and the often foul odors emanating from it have some questioning whether its presence does more harm than good as Biddeford seeks to attract other industries.
Today the city seems to be making some headway but it still faces hurdles. Industrial parks have been humming for decades, malls and “big-boxes” have moved into the area and revitalization of many of the old mill buildings is underway.