LEWISTON — A new marketing and economic development direction for the Twin Cities could be developed at three community meetings this spring.

John Holden, president of the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council, said his group is going to Lewiston and Auburn residents to talk about ways to grow the economy.

“We are working on this strategy but it’s LA’s strategy, not the Growth Council’s,” Holden said. “We have been entrusted to do it, but there has to be community buy-in and collaboration. I think we have a good start.”

Holden said the council has been working the LA Future Forum and has settled on three themes for economic development: people, place and prosperity.

Holden said he is partnering with community groups to further develop those themes.

The first meeting is being sponsored with the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College at 5:30 p.m. April 14 in room 170. It’s titled “Bringing Spring to the Demographic Winter: Diversity, Higher Education and Economic Development.”

“The people theme matches very nicely with that event,” Holden said. “It’ll be a good discussion about higher education and diversity — so, people.”

The council is partnering with the Build Maine conference for the second meeting, focusing on place. They are hosting a workshop focusing on Lewiston-Auburn as one of the breakout sessions at the May 21 conference.

“It’s actually our session, and it’ll be focused on place-based development,” he said.

Holden will discuss how to best communicate with the rest of the community at a 4 p.m., May 26, session at L-A College. And for the final meeting, the topic is how to expand local businesses and attract new investment, 5:30 p.m., May 27, at the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport conference room.

“They are interesting meetings, but they are aimed at developing those themes and tying into the strategy,” he said.

staylor@sunjournal.com

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