Overview

The Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council is the central economic development and business attraction agency for Lewiston-Auburn.

The Growth Council works closely with clients on a fully confidential basis offering services including technical assistance, commercial financing, site searches, and marketing.

The Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council serves as an on-call business partner, assuming a variety of roles to help clients get down to business affordably, efficiently, and successfully.

The Growth Council also serves as a clearinghouse of information on a wide variety of business resources, such as education and training programs, incentive programs, local statistical data, and networking opportunities.

Loans

LAEGC provides gap financing for clients in the Twin Cities, and currently manages more than 20 outstanding loans totaling about $4.8 million. Gap financing allows small- and medium-sized companies the ability to operate, innovate, and maintain their workforce. Since 1981, LAEGC has leveraged tens of millions of dollars in new local investments through its financing programs.

Site Searches & Product Development

LAEGC provides confidential site searches for clients looking for existing office, industrial, retail, or commercial space, raw land, or build-to-spec options. LAEGC manages an extensive database of properties and works with municipal officials, local realtors, and developers to find the right solution for each client. LAEGC was instrumental in assisting the Wal-Mart Distribution Center, Safe Handling, and Estes Express, to name just a few clients. Often by serving its sister corporations (Lewiston Development Corp., Auburn Business Development Corp., and L-A Railroad Co.), LAEGC has helped develop or manage development of property, including the Auburn Industrial Park; Angostura/World Harbors; and a future spec building on Forrestal Street in Lewiston. LAEGC serves as landlord and marketing agent for the Business Service Center at 415 Lisbon Street. Furthermore, LAEGC is always ready to assist the cities of Lewiston and Auburn in evaluating project development proposals and exploring partnerships.

Marketing & Public Relations

LAEGC serves as the primary marketing and business attraction resource for the cities of Lewiston and Auburn, overseeing various print, electronic, and mass media communications. The Growth Council manages the successful “L-A: It’s Happening Here!” community image and branding campaign and oversees all TV, radio, print, and electronic advertising for the campaign.

The Growth Council also assists its development clients with public relations needs, from writing and distributing press releases to organizing ground-breaking ceremonies and ribbon cuttings. LAEGC regularly pursues media and public relations opportunities particularly to related issues that affect the local economy, economic development, and business issues.

For 15 years, LAEGC has organized the Androscoggin Business to Business Trade Show, which has evolved into the largest one-day business show in the state. The show attracts nearly 200 exhibitors and 2,500 attendees. It has sold out for the past five years, and has an extensive waiting list each year. This year’s show has as its theme “Show 2010: Launching a New Decade,” and will be held Thursday, June 10, at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston. The show will focus on the need for organizations to seize opportunities to innovate, reinvent themselves, and take a fresh look at what they do best.

LAEGC also hosts an Annual Dinner and Business Forum — on May 13 this year — to celebrate the community’s economic development successes, inform business and community leaders about development projects, and preview upcoming projects. The dinner provides a forum for the cities of Lewiston and Auburn to bestow their Economic Achievement Awards to local businesses and/or individuals each year.

Lewiston-Auburn

Economic Growth Council

415 Lisbon Street,

P.O. Box 1188

Lewiston, ME 04243-1188

Phone: 784-0161

www.economicgrowth.org

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