Dwindling state aid for local economic development has put the Lakes Region Development Council on shaky ground this year, but volunteers for the non-profit collaborative continue with the work ahead while trying to reorganize.
For the past decade, the Lakes Region Development Council, an advocacy group of business owners and town officials, has aimed to bring new economic opportunity to the region and address problems facing businesses in the towns of Windham, Raymond, Casco, Naples, Bridgton and Harrison.
Under financial hardship as of late, the council recently retired their full-time director of the council, John Shattuck, and will sell its office on Route 302 in Casco.
With the bills piling up, their only option was to eliminate the position, said Naples Town Manager Derik Goodine. Shattuck bowed out gracefully by saying that the council must “do what’s best for the region.”
“John was the face of (the council) and he was great while he was there,” said Goodine, who worked closely with Shattuck on revitalization of downtown Naples.
Shattuck was unavailable for comment by press time.
The non-profit council sustains itself through contributions from the towns involved and state grants for economic and community development.
One constant focus of the council is traffic along the Route 302 corridor and how to alleviate the congestion that often stalls visitors and commuters for miles during the summer.
The council was also instrumental in the birth of the Naples Main Street Committee – a citizen group that aims to rejuvenate downtown Naples along the commercial causeway.
While state grants have become increasingly scarce in recent years, the new fiscal year struck another blow at the council’s finances as the towns of Casco and Naples withdrew their annual contribution to the council.
But hope is on the horizon. The Greater Portland Council of Governments, a collaborative of town officials who collectively purchase town goods and focus on regional planning, has taken a strong interest in renewing its relationship with the economic council.
The Council of Governments helped the economic council come to fruition nine years ago, but the council later branched off to become self-supporting.
Now the Council of Governments seeks to create a new relationship with the Lakes Region Development Council and build a bigger identity in the Lakes Region, only 15 miles outside of Portland proper. Most town officials involved in the economic council are also members of the Council of Governments.
“We really do want to be helpful in this process,” said Neal Allen, executive director of the Council of Governments. “I see this as an opportunity to strengthen our relationship with our member towns and the business community.”
Barbara Clark, director of the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, is hopeful the Council of Governments will be able to help the economic council through their financial struggles.
Though the council is downsizing its administration, it will continue to advocate for community development and economic opportunity in the Lakes Region.
“We’re just trying to reorganize and refocus,” Clark said.
The Lakes Region Development Council is selling its office in Casco under difficult financial times, but will continue to advocate for economic prosperity in the Lakes Region.Send questions/comments to the editors.
