RUMFORD — River Valley Growth Council members plan to attend a special regional meeting next week that aims to find ways to improve the local economy.

Council President Rich Allen said Mobilize Maine may be a way to follow through on some of the data previous efforts have identified.

“This process was done successfully in the Northwest, and we have had many meetings to identify the area’s assets and constraints, but they’ve never been followed through,” he said.

The Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments is hosting a meeting from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at the Bethel Inn in Bethel for anyone interested in working toward improving economic development. According to a statement by AVCOG and Mobilize Maine, the session will help identify the region’s promising and marketable assets, then begin to develop an action plan to put these plans into place.

Business and community leaders, as well as local economic groups and municipal officials, are invited to participate in the work session. Participants are asked to contact AVCOG at 783-9186 or alandry@avcog.org if they plan to attend.

Growth Council member Richard Lovejoy and council administrator Beverly Crosby attended an introductory session last spring at Central Maine Community College and another session a few months later.

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Tuesday’s session is a follow-up as well as a chance to bring new ideas.

A similar Mobilize Maine program focusing on the assets and constraints of the Franklin County area is scheduled for 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Feb. 23 at the University of Maine at Farmington.

The Mobilize Maine program is taking place at the same time as the Fast Forward Maine program begins in the River Valley area.

Fast Forward aims to boost the local economy through working with businesses to identify impediments to success, among other projects. It is being funded through foundation and federal grants.

In other matters, Crosby said a representative from the state will visit the River Valley Technology Center next week as part of a tentative plan that could increase the health cluster at the site. Currently, Community Dental serves patients from the site and a social worker/counselor maintains an office in the building.

eadams@sunjournal.com


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