Kennebec Valley Council of Governments in Fairfield is partnering with GrowSmart Maine in Augusta to offer a virtual interactive session to introduce new programs in smart growth. The free session, held from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, via Zoom.

Strategies in Smart Growth and How to Engage Your Community, an interactive session and Q&A, is part of the Kennebec Valley’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, which the council administers as the region’s Economic Development District as federally designated. The strategy provides effective economic development for the Kennebec Valley through a locally based, regionally driven economic development planning process and is a blueprint for regional collaboration, community engagement, and private sector involvement to create an environment in which regional economic prosperity can thrive.

Hosted by the council’s Community and Economic Development Specialist Jeff Sneddon, the event will feature guest speaker Nancy Smith, executive director of GrowSmart Maine who will introduce three community programs highlighting community engagement, energy efficiency, and housing choices.

“We’re excited for the chance to once again partner with GrowSmart Maine” said Sneddon, according to the release. “These new and exciting programs in smart growth fit well with the regions current CEDS strategy and will help to foster community engagement and offer tools for communities to use in addressing energy efficiency and housing choice.”

GrowSmart Maine is a statewide nonprofit with a mission to build lasting prosperity without sacrificing the quality of life that defines Maine. They do so through raising awareness and support of smart growth principles and connecting Mainers with the tools to manage growth and change in their communities; through providing leadership by facilitating meaningful conversations among diverse voices to achieve solutions; and through advocating for policies and programs that allow Maine’s economy to prosper while conserving and enriching Maine’s natural spaces.

“GrowSmart Maine is excited by this opportunity to partner with KVCOG and to present our new slate of exciting programming” said Smith, according to the release. “Through this CEDS session we hope to engage more communities in the Kennebec Valley in connecting with smart growth principles which give them the choice in how they respond to growth and change.”

To reserve a spot, register at kvcog.org/registerCEDS.

To learn more, visit kvcog.org, or follow the council on Facebook and Instagram.

 

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