LEWISTON – A group of about 30 state legislators wrapped up a three-day, economy-focused bus tour of central and southern Maine in Lewiston Friday with a stop at the recently renovated Colisee.
The group began on Wednesday with a tour of Bath Iron Works and visits to Portland to discuss affordable housing and ideas for innovative business. They went from Portland Thursday to Bethel for discussions about the tourism industry and spent Friday morning visiting Hancock Lumber and Poland Spring’s Bottling operation.
Legislators said the trip was a good experience, but they were eager to get home.
“We’ve seen the alpha and omega of Maine’s economy,” said Rep. George Bishop, R-Boothbay. “We’ve seen the old economies and how they’re changing and the new ones and the opportunities they offer, and where we might have to tighten our belts.”
The Twin Cities stop at Lewiston’s Colisee featured an hour-long presentation about economic development and regional cooperation.
For local officials, the meeting was an opportunity to show off their economic development exploits and explain just how closely Lewiston and Auburn work together.
“We want you to recognize what we’re trying to do,” said Lewiston City Administrator Jim Bennett. “That way, if our local delegates come to you to ask for something, we hope you’ll recognize what we are trying to do. When we do economic development, it doesn’t just help one community but it helps both of us, and ultimately the entire state.”
Image is important, Bennett said. The Colisee itself is a good example.
“What did you think when you turned the corner and saw it for the first time?” Bennett asked. “If you had been here before, I bet you just were surprised the parking lot was paved.”
Lucien Gosselin, executive director the Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council gave a history of cooperative efforts dating back to 1849, when the neighbors from part of Lewiston, Auburn and Danville formed a joint fire department.
It continued up through 1981 and the founding of the growth council and culminated in last year’s “LA: It’s Happening Here” marketing campaign.
“We do believe in this area, very strongly,” said Auburn City Manager Pat Finnigan. “We’d like to continue getting better, but we know the only way to do that is in partnership with the state.”
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