MEXICO – River Valley Growth Council developer Scott Christiansen outlined for selectmen Wednesday night the benefits and responsibilities of being in a regional economic zone.

The state-supported Pine Tree Zones aim to improve the economies of eight regions by offering tax incentives, tax credits and exemptions to new businesses who move into them.

About 20 sites in the Androscoggin Valley will most likely become a Pine Tree Zone administered by the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments.

In the River Valley, those sites include the new Rumford Business and Industrial Park along Route 108, a parcel across the Androscoggin River from the industrial park located in Mexico, contiguous sites in Peru and Dixfield, and an as-yet unidentified site in Canton.

Christiansen said plans are to try to include the buildings and land parcel that was once the Thurston mill on Route 2 west of Rumford.

“This is a big hammer,” said Christiansen of the economic potential of being named as a Pine Tree Zone.

Among benefits aimed at improving the economy and boosting the number of jobs, are sales tax exemptions on goods used to build or expand a business and a state income tax credit for five years.

Towns with comprehensive plans will likely derive more benefits from inclusion than those that don’t, he said.

Future zones will be announced in January, but Christiansen said residents of the towns included in them must approve being part of it at their annual town meetings.

He said the growth council will visit each of the region’s towns to ask for funding to market and promote the sites in future months.

Inclusion in the Androscoggin Valley Pine Tree Zone, which has already been designated, is good news for the River Valley, Christiansen said.

“This means we don’t have to compete,” he said.

In other matters Wednesday, the board awarded the contract for supplying 2,500 cubic yards of winter sand to Archie’s Inc. of Mexico for $3.89 per cubic yard.

[email protected]