Baldacci to speak at economic summit

AUBURN - Gov. John Baldacci is slated to speak at the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments' Western Maine Economic Summit today at Lewiston-Auburn College. Baldacci will top off a day of speakers and panelists addressing "How Will You Fit in the New Economy?"

George Robertson, president of the Schenectady Economic Development Corporation, will kick off the one-day conference with a presentation on Future Trending for Economic Development.

Later in the day, Charles S. Colgan, professor of Public Policy and Management at the Muskie School of Public Service, and Jim Damicis, director of Public Policy for the Maine Science and Technology Foundation, will present "Are Clusters in Our Future?"

Rounding out the afternoon's discussions, two panels will address the community college concept and future opportunities for wood products, tourism and health-care industries.

The governor's comments will conclude the conference and lead into dinner and the Androscoggin Valley Council of Government's annual spring meeting and award ceremony. Two awards will be given this year.

The President's Recognition Award will be presented to the partners of the Internet Incubator Project -Central Maine Technical College, the State Department of Economic and Community Development and Advanced Microsystems. The second award, for Environmental Achievement, will be presented to the city of Lewiston's Public Works Department.