Economic development leaders, town managers, commissioners and administrators from Knox and Lincoln Counties had an informal discussion about possibly forging ahead with new alliances.
Still in the throes of a dispute with Sagadahoc and Cumberland County economic development group members, Lincoln County Commissioners and economic development leaders met Tuesday at the Waldoboro town office with representatives from Knox County, hoping to forge new bonds of cooperation.
Several people gathered at the meeting including Lincoln and Knox County administrators, planning directors from Rockport and Waldoboro, town managers from Union, Camden and Waldoboro, along with the commissioner from Knox County and commissioners from Lincoln County.
Lincoln County commissioner William Blodgett briefed representatives from Knox County on the dispute between the economic development offices of Lincoln County and the towns to the south.
He said the differences between the towns represented by the Midcoast Council for Business Development (MCBDP) and the towns in Lincoln County don’t align.
Blodgett said they had originally joined to obtain grant funding, which was to be distributed equally. When the MCBDP regrouped to form an, as yet, unofficial Midcoast Council of Governments (MCOG), the understanding between the Lincoln County Economic Development Office and MCOG/MCBDP fell apart.
Blodgett and the others at the meeting discussed the benefits and possibilities of working together, with the primary goal of providing economic benefits for the towns.
Chris Shrum, interim director of Knox/Waldo Region Economic Development (KWRED) mentioned a number of interests linking the three counties. Other members of the meeting noted the Gateway One (Rt. 1 corridor development project) and energy interests would link county interests. In thinking of such future projects, they hope to work together.
Shrum said while there will be a new director for KWRED in the near future, the economic development throughout the counties is a changing landscape.
Commissioners representing both counties also wanted to make sure representatives from Waldo County were invited to join future discussions.
“I think it would be good to pool resources rather than create a new entity,” Lincoln County administrator John O’Connell said, a notion with which several at the meeting agreed.
