RUMFORD – The Oxford Hills area has theirs. So, too, do the Twin Cities of Lewiston-Auburn.

Now, the River Valley wants its own slogan.

Something snappy like Oxford Hills’ “Eight Towns, One Community” or Lewiston/Auburn’s “Cities of the Androscoggin.”

“We want to describe our region, a slogan that will identify us,” said Rosie Bradley, executive secretary of the River Valley Growth Council. “We want a short slogan, just a few words that are catchy and to the point that identifies us.”

The council’s desire for a slogan is part of its larger plan to identify the region for the benefit of the economy, she said.

“We need to regionalize. There are 10 towns in our region. They all need representation. One town isn’t going to make it. It makes so much sense to regionalize. Look at the resources you can utilize when you have 10 towns that are cooperating,” she said.

The council members, with the support of several other organizations, is also trying to highlight the region by making a request to the Maine Department of Transportation. They are appealing for the installation of directional signs on the Maine Turnpike that read “River Valley Recreational Area.”

They are also working with the Maine Tourism Bureau, which will publish brochures identifying the River Valley as a region, she said.

The entire identification plan is part of the council’s long-term economic development plan for the region, which calls for partnerships with area organizations and municipalities.

Those with ideas for a slogan may mail them to: River Valley Growth Council, 34 River St., Rumford, ME 04276 or e-mail rosie@rvgc.org. The cutoff date is May 16.

Bradley said the Strategic Plan Marketing Committee of the council will narrow down the entries to three to five. Then, the region’s people and businesses will have a chance to vote for their favorite one. The entry with the most votes will become the region’s slogan.

The writer of the winning slogan will receive $50.

“We want the buy-in from everybody in the region,” she said. “We want our region identified so when people hear River Valley, they think of us.”

eadams@sunjournal.com