FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners tabled action Tuesday on putting out a request for proposals for economic development services.
They will take up the matter during budget deliberations.
The Greater Franklin Development Council wanted commissioners to put out a request to get quotes. The council is interested in submitting a proposal.
The council also hoped economic development services would be removed from the county budget’s program grants and be put in as a line item for a contracted service in the commissioners’ budget.
The council, formerly known as Greater Franklin Development Corp., was founded nearly 20 years ago by county leaders in the wake of the G.H. Bass shoe manufacturing plant closing.
Commissioner Terry Brann of Wilton said when he was on the county budget committee, it was said the council would be on its own in five years.
Executive Director Alison Hagerstrom said that did not happen because the council does not have the businesses to support the budget all by itself.
The council puts in an annual $60,000 request to the county under program grants and raises money for its remaining expenses. A budget could run as high as $150,000, according to Hagerstrom.
This year, the county gave the council $42,000. Half of that comes from county coffers and the rest from tax-increment financing funds.
Farmington Town Manager Richard Davis, a council board member, said the economic landscape has changed since the idea to be self-sustaining was discussed.
“People support economic development but just can’t monetarily support it,” Hagerstrom said.
“I am at the point now that I am not willing to spend taxpayers’ money on this, commission Chairman Charles Webster of Farmington said.
“This hasn’t worked,” Brann said. “I would like to see better ideas.”
Commissioner Clyde Barker of Strong said many people may not think it is working, but he sees it moving forward.
Davis said Hagerstrom does not get enough credit for what she does. The jobs at the medical call center in Farmington would not be there and neither would the Poland Spring Water Co. bottling plant in Kingfield without her efforts, he said.
The process to bring in businesses takes years and much of what is done is confidential, Davis said. There has to be someone that businesses can come to, he said.
Brann said the focus of economic development should be on the businesses that are here and to try to grow them.
Hagerstrom said she calls on a lot of businesses, but she cannot get to all of them. Businesses could reach out to her for assistance, she said.
Davis said if commissioners did not want to put out a request for proposals, he would like to see $60,000 in the budget as a line item.
After discussion, Brann said he would support $42,000 and Barker said he would support $60,000.
Following the vote to table the request, council board Chairwoman Mary Howes asked if a request for proposals would be put out.
Brann said the request for proposals was out and he saw no sense in it.
“We are very disappointed with the commissioners’ decision regarding funding for Greater Franklin Development Council,” Howes said in an email Thursday.
“It’s unfortunate (commissioners) feel economic development is not a function of government,” Howes said. “I have no knowledge of any economic development group that is not at least partially funded by government. With Franklin County’s job losses, it is more important than ever to have a group ready and able to help a business relocate or start up here.
“Without (the council), I’m not sure who a business prospect would call. The Maine (Department of Economic and Community Development) would certainly handle any large project for Franklin County. However, they are not staffed to manage all of the county’s economic development activity. We realize it is very important to keep taxes low, especially for our elder community members, but we feel economic development is a priority in these trying times.”
The council’s board will meet Feb. 22 to discuss its next steps.
Alison Hagerstrom, left, executive director of the Greater Franklin Development Corp., discusses the need for economic development services in the county with Franklin County commissioners in Farmington on Tuesday. Listening are Mary Howes, the chairwoman of the council’s board of directors; Farmington Town Manager Richard Davis, a council board member; and county Register of Probate Joyce Morton.