RUMFORD – The event drew several thousand people for each of its three years, but despite repeated attempts to launch a business expo this year, it won’t happen – again. It marks the second consecutive year organizers are unable to relaunch the promotional event.

Rosie Bradley, director of the River Valley Growth Council, one of the two groups that had organized the River Valley Expo, said this week that both people and money were lacking to hold such an event this year.

“The number of tasks to put the expo on is just too much for a committee of six people,” she said.

Besides the growth council, the River Valley Chamber of Commerce also had helped organize the event.

She said letters asking for sponsorship were sent to 200 chamber members, resulting in a response from seven. And of those, only three offered cash to help get the event moving.

Bradley said a minimum of $9,000 to $10,000 is needed to hold the all-day event that aims to show what the River Valley has to offer people from the area and from away.

During the three years of the event, 2003, 2004 and 2005, several thousand people visited more than 150 business, municipal and nonprofit displays set up at Mountain Valley High School.

Many of the companies used the contacts they made at the event to increase their business.

Bradley doesn’t think there is less interest in a business showcase. Instead, she believes business budgets are getting tighter.

On top of that, volunteers aren’t stepping forward to help.

If each business would appoint one employee to one event throughout the year, the results would be overwhelmingly positive for the business climate in the region, she believes.

“We’ll hold off until the end of 2007, then try again to get some interest,” she said.