WATERVILLE — City Councilor Sydney Mayhew wants to bring good-paying jobs to Waterville and says the way to do that is to be as business-friendly as possible.

Mayhew, R-Ward 4, is heading an effort by the city to apply to the state Department of Economic and Community Development for Certified Business-Friendly Community status.

If the city gets approved for the program, it would get two “Open for Business” road signs from the state to be placed in the community, recognition on the state DECD website, bonus points for Community Development Block Grant applications and a certificate presented by Gov. Paul LePage.

“If we can partner with the state and they’re advertising on our behalf, I think it just opens up doors,” Mayhew said Wednesday. “I think that’s a positive for us.”

LePage, a former Waterville mayor, introduced the Business Friendly program in 2012.

The city recently formed a committee, headed by Mayhew, to work on the application. Other committee members are City Manager Michael Roy; councilors Nathaniel White, D-Ward 2, and Dana Bushee, D-Ward 6; and Kimberly N. Lindlof, president and chief executive officer of the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce.

Roy said Wednesday that the expected outcome of gaining certification is that it would help spur economic activity and therefore create jobs.

The application process is in four parts starting with a requirement that the city explain various ways in which the community helps businesses, including financially and through an improved permitting process, Roy said. The second part asks the city to explain how it works with the Chamber of Commerce and with businesses and how it encourages business opportunities. The third asks for letters of support from businesses in the community, explaining in detail how the community supports their efforts to be successful. The fourth asks about the city’s licensing and permitting procedures and whether they are business friendly.

Roy said he believes that earning the certification will benefit the city.

“It certainly can’t hurt, and I think it will be helpful for Waterville to be listed with other communities on the (DECD) website,” Roy said Wednesday. “There are certainly other things that go into making the region attractive for growth and we’re working on that, too, but this is one of the pieces that should be a part of every community’s effort to be business friendly.”

Brian Whitney, director of business development and innovation for DECD, spoke to the City Council Jan. 20 about the program. He said 40 communities had sought certification in the program and 31 had achieved it.

The goal of the program is to help communities build on what the state is trying to do to reduce bureaucratic hurdles businesses face and streamline processes so that jobs can be created, according to Whitney.

Communities, whether large or small, are evaluated on an individual basis, he said.

Councilor John O’Donnell, D-Ward 5, asked Whitney about results from the program.

Whitney said he did not have data on how many jobs were created as a result of the program, but participating communities have commented positively about it.

Mayhew, general manager for the McDonald’s restaurant on Bangor Street in Augusta, said he has been working in hotel and restaurant management for more than 30 years and understands what businesses look for and what they need to sustain themselves and grow. He said providing a positive, business-friendly atmosphere and doing everything possible to attract businesses is key.

“I have a big passion for that,” he said.

Area communities that have attained business-friendly status include Fairfield, Augusta, Madison and Pittsfield.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @AmyCalder17