GREENE – The Greene Economic and Community Development Group this week unveiled a new community map, complete with landmarks, local history, phone numbers, area restaurants, recreation and churches.

The inside folds list schools, stores and local service providers, as well as community service and agriculture. The map, on the inside of the foldout, includes a legend of street names and locations.

The main objectives are to attract new companies and increase existing business. Town officials also hope it will spread pride through the community and draw new residents.

“We’re here to try and help develop Greene,” said John Labonte, chairman of the Community Development Group.

The map was unveiled at the group’s annual Meet ‘n Greet Tuesday night at Sedgley Place.

Paul Balsamo, printing manager at Geiger, held up the first copy for the nearly 80 business owners in attendance. The maps came off the presses that morning.

The project was initiated by Sally Hebert, secretary and treasurer of the business group, who realized the old black-and-white map was outdated.

“We hope this is a good way to showcase our town,” Hebert said at the meeting.

In 2003, she and other members of the group began planning and seeking advertising, hoping to make the map encompass all they love about their town, at the same time making it functional for anyone who used it.

However, the project met a few hurdles along the way. The first company contracted to print the map went bankrupt, taking all of the advertising revenue with it. During the search for other printers, the college student who was to design the map left for other commitments and the task of finding a designer was added.

Geiger stepped in and produced the full-color, foldout map – much to the relief and satisfaction of the group. ReNae Gagne volunteered to design the map when a conversation with the group’s director, Bill Clarke, revealed the need.

“This is a wonderful opportunity, organization and event for the town of Greene,” state Sen. John Nutting, D-Leeds, said in a brief statement to the crowd.

Guest speaker Maurice Dube of the Small Business Administration provided copies of the SBA Small Business Resource guide, which will be available at the Town Office.

An online version of the Greene Economic and Community Development Group’s new map will be available in a few weeks on the town’s Web site: http://www.townofgreene.net.