RUMFORD – A possible east-west highway that would bypass the Western Maine area, going after “green” grants, and representation on a northern border regional commission were among the topics discussed at Wednesday night’s River Valley Growth Council meeting.

Rumford member Seth Carey said the River Valley’s past exploration into biofuels and associated products extracted from wood makes the area the right place to seek “green” industries.

“We need to find a way to make a green study happen. We need to figure out how to do this,” he said. “This green initiative is ripe for the picking.”

His comments followed a report by acting director Diane Ray on her efforts to secure a grant or find money in some other way to bring “green” companies to Maine.

She said about $16,000 is needed to make the study happen.

Ray is also applying for money from a rural business enterprise grant that would financially help a community dental clinic move into the River Valley Technology Center, help start a cloth diaper service, and assist an emergency vehicle outfitter to expand. Also, she is rounding up money to fund a study that could bring Canadian companies to the area.

In a related matter, the board learned that a northern border regional commission is about to be organized to focus on the economies of 16 northern counties in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York state. Oxford County is one of those counties, and the growth council wants representation.

Mexico Town Manager John Madigan is particularly concerned that an east-west highway may come about as part of the new commission that could become a private road, loosely following the now existing Golden Road that runs from Millinocket to the Quebec border. That road would bypass the region, but could also become a toll road straight through the state from eastern Canada to more easily connect with Quebec and Ontario.

“This could have a real impact on us. We need to keep our ears open,” he said.

Rich Allen, president of the council, said steps will be taken to try to get representation on the soon-to-be-formed regional commission.

In other matters, the planned community dental health clinic expects to learn whether a $300,000 grant will be given next week. That money, along with a $110,000 grant already secured, would ensure that the new clinic would move into the technology center.

Ray said the dental group wants to begin renovating the first floor in November, then open for business soon after the first of the new year.

Growth council offices and meeting rooms would have to be temporarily relocated until money is found to renovate the second floor of the tech center.