RUMFORD – Only two people turned out for a public hearing on the town’s proposed Pine Tree Zone, and each was involved in some way with the program.

Residents will decide whether 281 acres distributed over four sites will become part of this state-sponsored economic growth program.

The town’s attorney, Jennifer Kreckel, who had written the resolution that will be signed by selectmen if the article passes at the June 7 annual meeting, said it was a good idea for the town. “It gives more favorable taxation rates,” she said.

Rosie Bradley, assistant to the executive director of the River Valley Growth Council, the economic organization that has been pushing for Pine Tree Zones to be established in some of the River Valley towns, said the Rumford sites were rated more highly than those from other towns in the state because the town has sunk a considerable amount of its own money into developing a new business park.

That park, still under construction, is located off Route 108. It is one of the four Rumford PTZ sites. The others are a portion of the town’s first industrial park, also located off Route 108, the former Thurston mill on Route 2 west of town, and the River Valley Technology Center.

Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments will administer all the sites approved in the Androscoggin Valley Region Pine Tree Zone. Dozens of sites have been identified and approved in Franklin, Oxford and Androscoggin counties.

Other towns in the River Valley with PTZ approved sites are Mexico, Dixfield, Peru and Canton.

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