MEXICO – River Valley Growth Council President Joseph Derouche outlined some of the dozens of short-term business projects that have come into the area during the past few years with assistance from the council.

He said residents often know more about the long-term projects, such as executive director Scott Christiansen’s update, than they do about the more visible changes in the Rumford area.

Right now, he said the council has 12 loans out that helped start-up new or expanding businesses. He said, too, that the council has helped businesses with codes, tax maps and other paperwork. Several new restaurants and retail stores have moved into the area, and the council worked with the Libra Foundation during its deliberations in helping the Maine Winter Sports Center buy Black Mountain.

A council inventory shows several large buildings in good shape that can be filled.

“It’s tremendous what we’ve done and what we’re going to do,” he said.

Rich Allen, another longtime RVGC member, said he has seen the business and economic climate change dramatically in the past dozen years.

“There have been major investments on Congress Street,” he said, listing some of the local and new people who have revitalized some of the buildings in downtown Rumford. “And there’s the River Valley Technology Center, the Pine Tree Zones and Tri-County Mental Health. They are all great and exciting stuff. Hopefully, this will snowball.”

The report, in part, was made in response to a concern expressed by Roxbury representative Tim Gallant. He had said that people don’t recognize the efforts made by the group.

“The River Valley Growth Council board members have to be ambassadors of growth,” said Allen.