FARMINGTON – Greater Franklin Development Corp. has been selected to receive a Champion for Economic Development Award from the Maine Development Foundation.

Director Alison Hagerstrom and board Chairman Michael Luciano will attend the foundation’s annual meeting Friday in Lewiston to receive the award.

The corporation was chosen from 35 Maine businesses and organizations nominated for the awards, two of which will be given to private businesses and two to public/nonprofit organizations.

When notified of the award, Hagerstrom said last week that she was excited. “That there were 35 other organizations nominated makes it even more special,” she said.

State Rep. Janet Mills of Farmington nominated the organization.

This is the second award this year for the nonprofit agency. The Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments gave it a business achievement award in April.

Greater Franklin Development Corp. started to in 1998 when area business people sought a way to give Franklin County more attention in attracting business, Hagerstrom said.

The corporation works to create and keep good employment opportunities in the greater Franklin County area, from Livermore to Coburn Gore, she said. Her work includes attracting new business and helping to keep existing businesses.

“It’s a sales job that takes years,” Luciano said. “It’s not a quick thing, but Hagerstrom is very persistent. When she gets a good lead, she follows up on it.”

Hagerstrom, who has served as director the past five years, mentioned some of the work accomplished by the organization including bringing NotifyMD to Farmington, Comfort Inn to Wilton and Poland Spring Water Co. to Kingfield. She also has worked on the wind power project and is helping negotiate a Pine Tree Zone grant for a potential mill in Strong.

The organization works with Maine and Company, AVCOG, Maine Department of Economic Development and Coastal Enterprise to obtain information on prospective businesses that might consider Maine.

“We cannot not exist,” Luciano said. “Someone needs to be here. When a prospect shows interest, they might be looking elsewhere in the state or out of state. We need someone here to raise their hand and say, ‘don’t forget about us.'”

Hagerstrom promotes all of the county, one with the best of four seasons, she said, from skiing to the mountains and lakes.

“Slowly but steadily we’re replacing the over 1,000 jobs lost here over the last 10 years,” she said.

Formed as a nonprofit in 1999, the organization’s board of directors includes members who have business knowledge and know the area.

“They’re educated for business,” Luciano said, “but are also a townie.”

The 13-member board includes bankers, a business professor from the University of Maine at Farmington, a town manager and county commissioner.

The organization receives a $60,000 program grant from the county, money that was previously used for an economic developer, as well as funding from businesses and a matching fund from the Sandy River Charitable Trust.