RUMFORD – Attitude, consensus and a vision of what residents want the River Valley to look like in the future is critical to the economic growth of the region.

That was the major message John Richardson, commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development, delivered to about 50 business people, town officials and other community leaders who attended a conference Saturday morning.

“The most valuable tool is a room full of people committed to a region and its success,” Richardson said.

And although taxes, utility costs and other issues affect an area’s business climate, he said a positive attitude is paramount.

He cited an economic turnaround in the Sanford area, and another at a formerly struggling precision metals business in the Paris area.

Other important factors include technology, innovation, work ethic and education.

“I compete with many other economic commissioners around the country. No one can beat Maine’s work ethic, which is known out of state, too. Or innovation, which is Yankee ingenuity. I believe we have it in our DNA,” he said.

The state could help with funding for technology and education, although such funding is low right now, he said. The rest must come from within.

“In this region, the dominant employer (NewPage Corp.) needs help. The River Valley must diversify, to get more corporate taxpayers,” he said.

He advised the towns to look to the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, one of six regional planning commissions in the state.

He said the state also has tools, but “what do you want to be? What is your vision? Do you want to diversify? Once you know, we can help you.”

The conference was organized by Phil Blampied, a Rumford resident who is a real estate investor and creator of the Web site growrumford.com. One of the major purposes, he said, was for officials, business people and entrepreneurs to learn the resources available to help the area grow.

Following Richardson’s address, Mexico Town Manager John Madigan, Rumford Town Manager Jim Doar, AVCOG Director Bob Thompson, and River Valley Growth Council Acting Director Diane Ray listed their resources

Along with state and federal grants listed by Richardson, towns said they had some money for economic development, but not a lot. They also said many of the grants require matching funds, something that small towns often do not have.

Doar said Rumford has many hard-working volunteers, while Ray said her office works to integrate resources from various funding sources.

Madigan said state and federal money seems to be an entitlement for some areas, such as Lewiston or Portland.

“There has to be a better way to handle rural Maine,” he said.

Ray said her studies have shown an available work force. She is working to match up people with jobs needing workers, and supporting such campaign strategies as “Make It Manufacturing,” and “Bring You Business Back to Maine.” She is also going after nearly $18,000 from the towns to pay for a consultant who will find specific businesses that would relocate to Western Maine.

Thompson said AVCOG provides a large amount of technical support to communities, and lends about $1.5 million a year to towns in the tri-county area.

A panel of Realtors, a banker and business people who spoke about the investment opportunities in the region concluded the conference.

Blampied said the conference did precisely what he had hoped it would do.

“To make it clear of all the opportunities in the area. The natural market forces will change the area around,” he said.