By Carol Coultas,Business Writer

AUGUSTA – You might wonder if local development officials are getting tired of smiling.

For the third time in less than six weeks, Lewiston and Auburn will be honored for the economic partnership that has produced impressive growth in the two cities.

The Maine State Chamber of Commerce plans to recognize the collaboration between the two cities at its annual meeting Wednesday. Mayors Lionel and Normand Guay are expected to receive the President’s Award, conferred by Dana Connors, president of the statewide business association.

“Lewiston-Auburn is a wonderful example of what we all instinctively know, consistently read, but don’t do in practice,” said Connors, speaking of the cooperative nature between the two cities. “The evidence of their success is obvious.”

Connors said he’d been watching the economic development of the two cities for a few years now, but was struck by the advances when he attended the recent grand opening of Northeast Bank’s new downtown headquarters in Lewiston. Within view of the new bank building is Oxford Networks’ new home, the Andover College campus and new tenants at Bates Mill. Beyond the bank are the Wal-Mart distribution center, Hilton Garden Inn and retail developments in Auburn, noted Connors.

He said he realized how effective the partnership was when he couldn’t decide who should receive the award.

“I knew I wanted to acknowledge their work and express the success of their partnership, but who do you give it to?” he asked. “The growth council? The public-private sectors? The city governments? The partnership is seamless.”

The cities also received recognition from the Maine Development Foundation in late September and from the anti-sprawl group, GrowSmart, a few weeks later.

Lewiston and Auburn led the state in large development projects in 2002 and 2004. Last year, Lewiston recorded $102 million in new construction while Auburn logged $45 million. The cities support 10 formal intermunicipal bodies and 25 informal organizations that work collaboratively to deliver services and invite development.

The Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council is one of them. Its president, Lucien Gosselin, said he is delighted the Twin Cities are getting the chamber award.

“The award is indeed a reflection upon the cities’ joint efforts to address infrastructure needs and appropriate land-use decisions,” said Gosselin. “The mayors and city councilors have shown the fortitude to invest public funds to support needed public facilities and structures to stimulate economic growth. The Twin Cities’ development team is second to none, and the several recent awards are indeed testimony to the exemplary leadership from the elected officials and city staff.”

Thaxter Trafton, director of business development for the state Department of Economic and Community Development, added his accolades. He said what makes L-A stand out is its positive attitude and aggressiveness about attracting development to the Twin Cities – without any turf battles.

“They win collectively,” he said. “If an opportunity arises and someone is looking for land or a building, the (cities) communicate and honestly don’t care which city has the land or the building. That kind of cooperation should prevail throughout the country … but we usually see just the opposite.

“There are many sister cities in Maine,” noted Trafton. “They could take notice.”

The chamber will also honor Joe Wischerath, former director of Maine & Co., with a President’s Award. For information about the annual meeting, people may visit www.mainechamber.org or call 623-4568, ext. 14.