NORWAY – The Maine Downtown Center will host workshops about developing business retention and business recruitment programs to build vibrant downtown districts on June 15 and 16 in downtown Norway.

Jim Watters, an economic development specialist with 17 years experience working with downtowns in Oklahoma, will provide both training sessions. The workshops will be held in Norway’s Town Hall, 26 Danforth St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend the June Business Development Workshops. The registration, which covers refreshments and equipment, is $20 per person per workshop. There is only a $10 per workshop charge for volunteers of designated Main Street Maine communities. Representatives of Norway Downtown revitalization may attend for free.

The workshop’s registration deadline is June 9.

On June 15, workshop participants will learn about developing effective business retention programs. Participants will also learn how to define their downtown market and develop effective programming to assist with business retention. This training will be based on the principles of the Main Street Approach to downtown revitalization.

On June 16, participants will learn about developing effective business recruitment programs. Topics covered will include organizing for successful business recruitment, developing marketing materials, generating leads and wooing prospects. This training takes a Main Street Approach.

The workshop agenda and registration materials can be found at the Maine Downtown Center’s Web site: www.mdf.org/downtown. Click on “Calendar of Events” in the left menu to access these materials under “June”. People also can contact Amanda Rogers at the center for more information and/or to register: (207) 622-6345 or by e-mail at [email protected]