NORWAY – Supporters of an upscale office park overlooking Norway Lake are holding their breath this week.

Western Maine Development and six Oxford Hills towns are awaiting word on a $2 million federal grant that would allow the project to go forward.

“We have heard nothing, which hopefully is a good sign,” said Brett Doney, president of the development corporation that is part of the Growth Council of Oxford Hills.

The deadline is Sept. 30 for federal officials to decide on the grant, which would create the public infrastructure for the 161-acre park off Roberts Road.

Plans for the regional office park were unveiled in December 2001. So far, six towns – Norway, Paris, Oxford, Waterford, Harrison and Otisfield – have committed $600,000 toward the park in hopes of attracting high-paying jobs to the Oxford Hills.

The goal over the next 10 years is to create 500 office-support jobs at the park, paying an average of $14 an hour, according to the EDA grant application submitted by Norway. The park as envisioned will feature 10 buildings ranging from 15,000 to 40,000 square feet, representing about $50 million in private investment.

The $2 million EDA grant will help to pay for construction of a road leading into the park, advanced telecommunications and electrical systems, a fire protection safety system and storm water management improvements.

“This will be the first park of any kind in the Oxford Hills region, and it will provide us the best opportunity to focus on diversifying the economy and provide higher-skilled, higher-wage jobs,” the application states.