RUMFORD — The River Valley Growth Council board decided Wednesday night to take advantage of some no-cost consulting advice to try to add funding to its program.

Beverly Crosby, administrative assistant for the economic development organization, said she, board Vice Chairman Dick Lovejoy and treasurer Bill Hine attended a Western Maine Non-Profit Viability Workshop at the University of Maine at Farmington last month.

In addition to the workshop, free advice from a consultant was offered and the board tentatively scheduled a session for Sept. 1.

At that event last month, sponsored by the Maine Association of Non-Profits, among others, Crosby said she learned that eight other nonprofits that took part were experiencing similar struggles to stay funded.

The growth council has suffered a continuing reduction in funding during the past few years while it has tried to bring new businesses to the River Valley area.

Its last grant of about $60,000 from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services ran out June 30, and support from the valley’s 10 member towns has been declining, she said.

The consultant is expected to help RVGC more clearly define its goals, learn to pool resources with other organizations, and to provide some ideas on how to raise operating funds, among other things, Crosby said.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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