I have been very pleased to gain access to the Lake Region Suburban Weekly audience through this bi-monthly opportunity to write about issues important to the towns and businesses of the Lakes Region. My counterpart in the Chamber located in Windham has the same opportunity on opposite weeks. Please feel free to contact me in the future with ideas or questions you may have about the Chamber work Of The Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber Of Commerce. Covering towns from Raymond to Fryeburg is both a challenge and a joy. It is easy to sell a product (the Lakes Region) when you use and believe in it.

In this note, I wish to look at the Lake Region Development Council. In many ways this is a mature, established entity. In others ways it is just now evolving to become the leader it needs to be. The Council covers seven communities in the Lakes Region. The territory begins in Windham and extends to Bridgton. All the communities involved share a common bond of Route 302. LRDC was created to work with member towns to further economic development. Is this important? I would say a strong yes. In my former career working with the State of Maine to provide mental health services, it was clear that this end of the state did not get the resources needed, likely due to our being in the same county as Portland. This can be said of the Lakes Region and economic development as well. There has been much happening in Maine and few would argue that we have gotten our share. Someone needs to advocate for us.

Thus, the Council can work the role of representing the region on the state level. They actually have done this in the past and are working with local Naples citizens to ensure the needed new Naples Causeway Bridge project gets the attention it deserves from the state. A group has met through the year and now is formally beginning to take action steps. While this coming-together of locals has apparently occurred before, the difference this time seems to be the quiet leadership of the Council.

The Council recently brought on John Shattuck as the new Vice President of the organization. His role is to be the go-to person. He is the daily contact in the region. John has done a remarkable job of both introducing himself and getting right into the fray. He is someone who brings a strong background in economic development and knows our communities well. John works with a board consisting of local business leaders, town managers and other interested parties. Of note, Hancock Lumber, Point Sebago Resort and Howell Laboratories all have seen the importance of this mission and staff the board. A recent board retreat helped this group focus on what they can do and what needs to be done.

The organization has gained much funding in the past from area towns. In this past budget cycle, the Council was underfunded by a few towns and not funded by two. This obviously was a focus of the retreat and in setting priorities. I believe the lost funding partly occurred because the Council needs to do a better job of telling the world what it is doing or has done. The other challenge is the downplaying of the importance of regionalization. The Council takes on projects of importance to the region and it is not clear that all towns understand that an improvement in one town can positively impact another. Does it make sense that fixing the Naples Causeway Bridge situation will affect Raymond, Bridgton and all Route 302 towns? For towns that did not fund the Council, are they saying they are prepared to do the advocacy work for themselves that in the past was done by the Council? This will be an interesting and important year for the Lakes Region and for the Council. Stay tuned!

I can be reached at 207-647-8104 or at mikem@mainelakeschamber.com. Join the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber Of Commerce this Saturday, Sept. 17 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the second Lakes Brew Fest. www.lakesbrewfest.com. This event is at the Casco Fair Grounds, Casco. Sample Maine-made brew, awesome music and good food. An artisan show is set up to benefit the Lakes Region Community Theatre. Join your friends at the park to take one last whack at summer!