RUMFORD – With so many projects in the works and some expected to continue for several years, the River Valley Growth Council on Wednesday agreed to hire a fourth person.

That person, who may come from within the current staff, will be known as a project specialist who will work on one or more of the council’s many projects.

An additional staffer is important, said RVGC President Joseph Derouche, so that more time can be given to ongoing projects as well as to provide more attention to working with existing businesses and to help expand the regional aspect of the council.

“We need to work with the towns, to go to the towns,” he said.

For example, he said work should be done on building the downtown area of Rumford, to work with businesses one-on-one, to look at growth possibilities in some of the smaller towns, and to set up classes for small businesses.

“I’m a regional director and need to stretch out the zone, to look at industrial and commercial sites. We’re a regional group that focuses on every piece of land. It’s time to make an adjustment to personnel. The current personnel is all busy,” he said.

Among the major, long-term projects is one focusing on how to get the River Valley into one of the state’s planned Pine Tree Zones. If successful, becoming a part would greatly enhance the area’s chance of attracting business and jobs. Among the benefits to businesses establishing themselves in a Pine Tree Zone is lowering or exempting them from sales and state tax, and tax incentive financing.

Council executive secretary Rosie Bradley is working on the Pine Tree Zone.

Council Economic Developer Scott Christiansen said meetings have been held with neighboring councils or counties to discuss a group effort. Other options include joining with the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, or going it alone. Four sites will be chosen by the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development sometime next year.

Christiansen said a proposal from the River Valley must be submitted by the end of the year.

Former Diamond Mill

An ad hoc committee was appointed Wednesday night to study whether the council should go ahead with tentative plans to accept the former Diamond Mill in Peru from the Archibald family.

Christiansen estimated about $450,000 is needed to cleanup pollution, asbestos and other hazardous materials from the 80,000-square-foot structure. The building could become an important site for future businesses, particularly if the River Valley should qualify to become a Pine Tree Zone.

Some money may be available through the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the state and other sources.

Christiansen recommended that the building be acquired. The committee must submit its recommendation at the board’s next meeting in September because the agreement with Archibald requires a decision by mid-September.

Pyrolysis

Progress on the pyrolysis project has caught the attention of many state officials, and has attracted some potential funding for the construction of a pilot facility, said Christiansen. Pyrolysis is a process of turning trees into chemicals that can be used in a variety of products. Further processing can produce hydrogen for fuel.

The council is working with several state agencies, the University of Maine, a Canadian expert on alternative fuels, and some as-yet unnamed businesses to get a pilot project going.

“This is the state’s No. 1 priority for getting an earmark grant,” said Christiansen.

A multimillion dollar earmark grant, if achieved, would come from the Department of Energy for building an experimental plant.

Quinoa

The grain-like grass was successfully grown at the University of Maine research farm in Monmouth this year. As a result, additional funds from the Department of Agriculture will help continue the experiment next year. The council and Threshold to Maine will continue to try to develop the potential cash crop.

Quinoa is a non-gluten grain that can be used in a variety of food products. The council, with the help of other agencies, is trying to develop an agricultural crop for the area.

eadams@sunjournal.com