RUMFORD – The number of finalists for the position of executive director and economic developer for the River Valley Growth Council has been narrowed to three.

A spokesman for the council’s Personnel Committee, Bill Hine, said 16 applications were received – most from Maine, one from Massachusetts and one from Washington state.

Two of the finalists, both men from Maine, have been interviewed. A third, from Washington, has been interviewed by telephone.

Hine said plans are under way to fly the Seattle-area developer to Rumford soon after the first of the year to conduct an in-person interview and to introduce him to the area.

He said no council funds would be used for the interview. Instead, frequent-flyer mileage owned by Diane Ray, a member from Canton, would be applied toward the flight.

Hine said the council had more applications to choose from this time around, compared to the time more than three years ago, when current Executive Director Scott Christiansen was hired.

“We feel good about all three finalists,” said Hine, adding that if the committee has to take another look at some of the other applications, that would be good, too.

Christiansen officially leaves his post at the end of the year to take the full-time directorship of the hoped-for Fractionation Development Center, which is a spin-off from the council and the River Valley Technology Center. A fractionation center aims to research chemicals and oils derived from wood, then turn them into a variety of products. His salary will be paid by grant money provided for fractionation research.

In the interim, the assistant to the executive director, Rosie Bradley, will conduct the growth council’s day-to-day contacts and other work generally associated with that of an economic developer.

Hine said he hopes a new, full-time developer and executive director will be on board by the end of January.