CONCEPT DRAFT

SUMMARY

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to implement legislation to improve Androscoggin County in the following ways:

1. Improve the infrastructure. In effecting this goal, the recommendations of the Downtown Initiative in the Department of Economic and Community Development focusing on how to revitalize downtown areas in Maine would be implemented;

2. Enhance existing businesses and encourage job growth. As part of this goal, the manufacture of a prefabricated industrial park, ready to be occupied by businesses, would be encouraged;

3. Attract high-tech and high-wage jobs. This would be partially accomplished through the appropriation of $300,000 each to Central Maine Technical College and Lewiston-Auburn College;

4. Encourage and promote tourism, convention activities and special events by emphasizing and advertising Androscoggin County as a destination point for these activities. Additionally, the feasibility of a convention center, built to service the State, would be explored and developed; and

5. Promote a stable economic environment through the review of current rules and regulations and taxes and making any necessary changes.