FARMINGTON – Recommendations for an action plan for Maine were presented by GrowSmart Maine President Alan Caron. He said real prosperity first requires three things:

• know who you are and don’t try to be someone else.

• know your assets and our liabilities.

• make some big bets, and stick with a plan.

The three requirements are based on success stories in North Carolina and Ireland, he said.

Recommendations from the report included:

• reduce spending and taxes, streamline government, lower taxes on Mainers, hike taxes on tourists – Maine doesn’t charge tourists as much as other New England states, he said.

• invest in tomorrow’s innovative economy; grow new products and research; and invest the revenue from increasing tourists’ taxes.

• protect Maine’s brand, its calling card in the new economy.

Real change comes from the bottom up, Caron said. These town meetings and gatherings become places where people can come to some basic agreement on what they want done.

A grassroots network has grown from 1,500 members to 4,500.

Legislation and bond issues are another key ingredient, Caron said.

He encouraged residents to join the network, contribute as they can and spread the word. The Brookings Report for GrowSmart Maine may be ordered for $10 and people can join the network through www.GrowSmartMaine.org.