FARMINGTON — Western Maine businesses can voice their concerns and ideas to local legislators during a series of forums in Franklin, Oxford and Somerset counties.

Starting in Franklin County on Friday, Dec. 3, businesses and local legislators are invited to a listening forum from 7 to 9 a.m. in the North Dining Hall at the University of Maine at Farmington. The event is open to the public but will focus on issues affecting the business community,  including topics such as regulation, labor or taxes.

A similar forum is scheduled for 8 to 10 a.m. Dec. 3 at the Skowhegan Community Center and another from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in South Paris. Legislators from districts in each of the counties will attend to listen to business concerns and specific ideas for resolution of the concern.

It’s a chance for small-business owners to lobby for themselves before legislators begin introducing any new bills in Augusta, said Tricia Cook of  Western Mountains Alliance. Legislators are invited to listen to ideas about things businesses would like to see introduced as they make plans on what to work on and what bills to propose during the first session of the 125th Legislature.

For more information about Friday’s forum in Farmington, contact the Greater Franklin Development Corporation at 778-5887 or [email protected]

For more information about the Oxford forum, contact the Western Maine Economic Development Council at 739-6543 or [email protected].

For information about the Somerset County forum, contact Somerset Economic Development Corp. at 474-0166 or [email protected]

The forums are sponsored by the Greater Franklin Development Corp., Somerset Economic Development Corp., Western Maine Economic Development Council, Western Mountains Alliance, River Valley Growth Council and other area business Chambers of Commerce.

For general information on the forums, contact Tanya Swain, Western Mountains Alliance at 778-3885 or [email protected].