RUMFORD — Linda Walbridge believes an all-out effort that includes both business assistance and promotion of the arts may help boost the economy of Rumford.

Walbridge, the economic developer for the Western Maine Economic Development Council that operates under Community Concepts, helped launch a series of business studies and grant applications that will assist about 30 Rumford/Mexico businesses during the next two years. The effort, which was launched last week, is known as Fast Forward Maine.

The day after that meeting, a second organizational meeting took place with the arts as the focus.

“We want to bring people back to the downtown. That’s vital to the community,” she said.

A new group, known as the Maine Arts Commission Grant Committee, is comprised of local officials, members of the arts community, and others, many of whom have taken part in similar initiatives in the past. The committee will work toward writing a successful $50,000 grant that will be used to fund outdoor performances in one or more of the town’s parks.

“This will be a municipal, business and art collaboration,” Walbridge said.

Greg Buccina, a Rumford selectman and committee member, said Monday afternoon that the arts are important to a community.

“This could promote economic development and well-being. All this needs to work together,” he said. “I hope we can put it altogether and spur on the economy.”

Town Manager Carlo Puiia agrees that downtown activities could be good for the town.

“The grant could bring social, educational and cultural events,” he said.

The Rumford Performing Arts Committee, which is represented on the arts grant committee, has already planned events for performing inside the Municipal Building Auditorium. The new grant would be for outdoor events.

Walbridge is also pursuing a total of $10,000 for a business visitation program from the Maine Community Foundation and the national, Neighborhood Workers organization. That program would assess existing businesses and learn the impediments to growth.

“We’re working hard in every way we can to revitalize the economy of the River Valley,” she said.

[email protected]

The park at the rear of the Rumford Public Library could act as a natural amphitheater for outdoor performances, economic developer Linda Walbridge believes. It is one of the parks in Rumford that will become the site of such events if a $50,000 grant from the Maine Arts Commission is approved.