AVON – U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud was given a whirlwind tour of north Franklin County by state Rep. Thomas Saviello on Tuesday. One stop was the Opportunity Center of North Franklin County in Avon, where he was greeted by center board members and representatives of SAD 58.

The center, initiated this summer, is a volunteer organization that hopes to attract resources, equipment and knowledge “to re-energize the life and prosperity of North Franklin County,” according to a recent press release. It opened its doors in October at the former Lauri Toy factory.

Gary Perlson, director of adult and community education for SAD 58, told the people that had assembled for the event that the center has a plan for education and community development, training and retraining opportunities for workers, support for entrepreneurs and small businesses and resource service accessibility.

One goal is to open satellite office space in the northern part of the county for organizations so they can provide the community resources that are already available in the southern end of the county. Already, Franklin County Children’s Task Force, SAD 58 and the Electronic Grange are using space there.

Another goal is training. SAD 58’s adult and community education is coordinating much of these efforts.

The center recently received a loan of more than $50,000 worth of welding equipment from Eastern Maine Community College. It plans to use it to teach metal-working skills, according to Perlson. Other spring offerings in Avon include a bricklaying class, a certified nursing assistant class and a computer class.

In morning sunlight streaming through large windows of the modern building, Michaud said he was impressed with the energy in the area.

“There’s so much enthusiasm here, all going in the right direction,” he said.

“It means a lot to have a U.S. congressman come up here,” said Bill Crandall, the center’s board chairman. “It (the center) can’t fail,” he said emphatically. “We’ve got too many people behind it.”

The congressman said he was also impressed with the collaborative effort that is evidenced at the center.

“They don’t care who gets credit, there’s no after-turf issues.” he said. “I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

If the legislative bill he introduced in June passes, help may be on the way.

Modeled on the Appalachian Regional Commission created in 1965 to promote economic development in that area, Michaud proposed creating a similar commission “charged with investing federal resources in economic development and job creation in the most distressed areas of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York,” according to a press release from his office.

The Appalachian commission cut the poverty rate from 31 to 15 percent and helped create 26,000 new jobs in the region since 1977, according to the release. Statistics from the Maine Department of Labor show the unemployment rate within a 30-mile radius from Avon was 7.6 percent in 2003.

Michaud said he’s committed to creating and protecting Maine’s jobs. With a proposed $40 million annually, the Northeast Regional Development Commission, as it would be named, will help meet a variety of local needs and regional economic goals.

“It sounds like you guys are on the right track,” said Michaud. Employers are looking for a work force but one that is educated, he added.