PARIS – The Oxford Hills region is well positioned to catch the wave of urban refugees relocating to Maine, Brett Doney believes.

Doney, the president of the Growth Council of Oxford Hills, is heading up a steering committee that is planning the May 2004 Blaine House Conference on the Creative Economy May 6 and 7 in Lewiston.

He has organized a local forum on the creative economy concept to be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. He said he needs the input from local community leaders, and is urging them to attend the free forum at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.

“We’re struggling to figure out where the next growth is coming from, and it’s not going to come from China,” said Doney. “We want to engage more people in thinking about what we should do.”

The best bet for future economic growth, Doney believes, may well come from creative entrepreneurs wanting to escape the rat race of city life. “Creative companies are companies that have done something to have a niche and have a healthy profit margin,” Doney said. “To us, the creative economy means constantly reinventing yourself to offer products that are highly valued in the marketplace,” Doney said.

“It looks like there’s a new wave starting of urban refugees” coming to Maine, he said. “The Oxford Hills is so well placed to attract those kinds of people.”

Every year, the growth council updates its strategic plan. “We’re doing a lot of soul-searching about where the world is headed and how can we compete,” he said.

Research shows that communities tend to prosper when the arts and culture are vital parts of community life, he said.

As part of the forum, the film “Downside Up” will be shown. It documents the transformation of North Adams, Mass., as the state turned a large mill into a contemporary art museum.

For more information on Wednesday’s forum or to register, phone the growth council at 743-8830.