JAY — The Jay, Livermore, Livermore Falls Chamber of Commerce will host speakers from two state programs at its breakfast meeting Friday, Aug. 3, at LaFleur’s Restaurant in Jay.

Members and guests will gather between 7 and 7:30 a.m. for networking and a continental breakfast. The business meeting will begin at 7:30 and will be followed immediately by the program. The meeting will adjourn at 9 a.m.

Chamber members and guests wishing to attend the meeting should RSVP the chamber office at 897-6755, no later than Wednesday, Aug. 1.

Program speakers will be Brian Doyle, the governor’s account executive, Department of Economic and Community Development, and Ken Fletcher, director of the governor’s Energy Office.

Gov. Paul LePage has assigned Doyle as a liaison for the Jay, Livermore, Livermore Falls Chamber of Commerce. As an account executive, Doyle’s role is to be a liaison between the governor’s office, DECD and the economic development resources of several chamber regions, assisting with the creation of new jobs and the promotion of economic opportunities.

Account executives act as a point of contact for businesses looking to start up, expand, or relocate in Maine and that may need assistance with programs, policies, funding, and awareness of state resources, according to the chamber’s release. 

Doyle will discuss his role and looks forward to answering questions about how he can offer support to businesses in the region, the release said.

Fletcher will discuss the state’s energy strategy to lower the price of electricity and decrease the total cost of energy to Maine consumers. Lower energy costs are particularly critical to Maine’s private sector since it must compete globally, the release states. 

If Maine is to attract the essential investment needed to grow the economy and jobs, energy costs need to be competitive and predictable. The goal of the governor’s Energy Office is to provide leadership in the development of public and private partnerships that provide consumers energy options that satisfy their particular energy needs. 

The mission is to provide an open and collaborative decision-making environment to create effective public and private partnerships that achieve energy security thereby promoting economic development in an environmentally responsible manner.

An additional highlight of the meeting will be a presentation by Member in the Spotlight Fran Szostek reporting on the upcoming Frantasia Festival 2012 — Explorations in Sound, Music, Movement and Visual Arts. It is scheduled for Aug. 22-25 in Farmington and Livermore Falls.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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