RUMFORD – The town’s new, all-volunteer Economic Development Committee on Wednesday shared ideas ranging from bringing colleges to the area to enticing wood product-related businesses.

“Off and running,” was how committee coordinator Phil Blampied described the meeting.

“I don’t think there are many communities out there that have this level of momentum going for them. It looks good. There are a lot of very capable people here,” he said.

From an agenda stacked with 14 areas in which to pursue businesses, members covered half of them. They tabled the others to discuss and divvy up at the group’s next meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 20 in the River Valley Technology Center.

Blampied said the first thing to do would be to develop a presentation folder with information about the town and what it has to offer for prospective businesses.

Parks Department Director Tim Gallant discussed the possibility of offering additional college programs. He also suggested that Rumford try to land one or more educational facilities such as a four-year university, trade or technology school or a community college.

“We have the expertise here with people willing to teach college classes,” Gallant said. “If we can have something here by September or October, my goal is to offer courses next spring … Andover College told me they would love to come up here.”

Regarding education, Roxbury resident Mark Henry, who operates the nonprofit Good Fisher, spoke about combining education, training, marketing and mentoring for craftspeople and others to grow businesses.

Actively seeking grants, Henry said that his company could hold its first class in September if he can find $30,000 to jump-start the program.

Blampied tabled to next week an idea regarding developing a biodiesel project, but discussed at length the casino project proposed by Seth Carey, president of Evergreen Enterprises LLC. Carey attended the meeting and spoke about the project.

Selectmen at last week’s meeting tasked the committee with getting more information about where the casino might be sited and with determining community support, provided the referendum issue is approved statewide by voters in November.

“The second task will be to circulate a survey asking voters and residents if they want the selectmen to go on record in favor of the casino coming to Rumford,” Blampied said.

Members also discussed identifying and attracting spin-off businesses that provide products to the town’s paper mill, NewPage Inc., Rumford Hospital and nearby Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry.

A growing demand for firewood, wood products, hardwood pallet manufacturers, composites and shingle mills were also addressed as economic-development possibilities.