RUMFORD – Five River Valley towns came a bit closer to becoming sought-after business locations Thursday when members of the Androscoggin Valley Pine Tree Zone towns approved them.

The four sites are among the 15 earmarked for potential tax exemptions and tax incentives in the Androscoggin Valley Pine Tree Zone. They are: 281 acres in the old and new Rumford Industrial Parks and former Thurston mill; 145 acres on Route 108 in Canton; 14 acres in Dixfield and Peru, which includes the former Diamond Match mill and the site of the former Stowell mill on Pine Street in Dixfield; and 471 acres along portions of both sides of Route 2 in Mexico from Archie’s Inc. to the Gregory Inn.

Other towns and cities included in the Androscoggin Valley Pine Tree Zone are: Lewiston, Auburn, Greene and Lisbon in Androscoggin County; Kingfield, Jay and Wilton in Franklin County; and Paris, Norway, Waterford and Oxford in southern Oxford County.

The towns are expected to make preliminary application to the Department of Economic and Community Development by Jan. 30. From there, each town must approve being a part of the Pine Tree Zone at its annual town meeting.

For River Valley towns, that means Canton and Peru will have articles on their March town meeting warrants, while Mexico, Dixfield and Rumford will have similar articles on their June town meeting warrants.

Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments spokeswoman Amy Landry said a final application to the state for inclusion as a Pine Tree Zone will be submitted once townspeople have approved being a part of the business incentive.

The zone would be one of eight such sites spread across the state.

Businesses that move to an approved zone will receive tax incentives and exemptions including 100 percent sales tax exemption on building materials and personal property for 10 years, 80 percent reimbursement on employment taxes for 10 years, and 100 percent state corporate income tax credits for five years, followed by 50 percent state corporate income tax credits for five years.

Businesses that move to one of the zones must be in manufacturing or financial services, or must be aligned with one of the state’s technology centers. Such a center is being built in the River Valley area. It will focus on precision metal manufacturing.

Rosie Bradley, River Valley Growth Council assistant, said the DECD and the council will market the sites to potential businesses.

“We’re hoping something will happen this summer,” she said.

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