AUGUSTA – Ideas that were generated at a Lewiston conference picked up momentum Wednesday when Gov. John Baldacci gave his backing to recommendations from conference organizers.

The governor pledged to establish a permanent, inter-agency council that would work to develop a creativity-based economy in Maine. If the state can invest in the arts, culture and heritage, and embrace innovation and technology in welcoming and diverse communities, it will become a magnet for creative people and businesses, the governor said.

“We have to marshal the resources to make this into an economic force,” he told an audience of conference organizers, economic developers, state officials, artists and media.

Lewiston’s Bates Mill hosted the conference back in May. Nearly 700 people attended the two-day event.

A report studying the impact of the conference said the economic benefit of hosting the conference was “modest” since most attendees traveled from within Maine and spent only one night here. But Baldacci said the opportunity to showcase the communities paid off in other ways.

“Listening to young people talk about the opportunities here made me swell up with pride,” Baldacci said.

At one point, the governor asked Lewiston Mayor Lionel Guay to step up to the dais with him and applauded the work the city did in organizing the conference.

The structure of the creative economy council will be worked out, but the governor asked John Rohman, co-chairman of the creative economy steering committee and a member of the Maine Arts Commission, to head it. He also said representatives from the departments of Economic and Community Development, Education and Planning should be included in the council.

Baldacci also said he would introduce legislation based on some conference findings to further the goals of a creative economy. Citing the success of Bangor’s folk festival, which drew more than 130,000 people this summer, he said more investment in culture and heritage-based initiatives was key. Baldacci pledged $100,000 for next year’s festival, to keep its momentum growing.

He also said he would consider legislation to expand Pine Tree Zone designations and other state help to rebuild Maine’s aging civic center and convention facilities.

“We’re not getting national associations to come into Maine” because so many facilities need to be rebuilt, he said. “Communities just don’t have those financial resources.”

Citing the three T’s of building a creative economy – talent, technology and tolerance – Baldacci said he plans to submit legislation to protect gay and lesbian residents from discrimination. He also said making sure there are links among the education community, technology innovators and economic developers will enhance the success of a creativity-based economy.