FARMINGTON – The future of communities and economies in the mountain region will be the topic of a day-long conference titled “Maximizing Shared Assets in Western Maine” that will take place Thursday, April 29, in Olsen Student Center at the University of Maine at Farmington.

Citizens as well as public officials from Oxford, Franklin, Somerset and Piscataquis counties are welcome to attend. The $15 registration fee includes lunch.

The highly interactive conference, hosted by the Western Maine Sustainable Development Collaborative, will address such questions as “How can we collaborate across our four counties to benefit the region as a whole? How can we turn current trends into great opportunities for a prosperous future? and How can we more fully use our shared assets to benefit our local communities?”

Leading the discussion of trends will be Tim Glidden of the Land for Maine’s Future Board, Darcy Rollins of the Maine Downtown Center and Yellow Light Breen of Bangor Savings Bank.

Stories of innovation and collaboration will be told by Amy Scott of the Mahoosuc Land Trust, Gayle Watson of the Friends of Community Fitness and Wendy Penley of the Maine Community Foundation.

Martha Freeman, director of the Maine State Planning Office, will make the opening address. Cynthia “Mil” Duncan, who is recognized nationally for her work on rural poverty, will address the luncheon.

For more information or to register for the conference contact the Western Mountains Alliance at 778-7274.

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