SKOWHEGAN — A ceremony marking the opening of the redevelopment of a former mill in downtown Skowhegan is set to highlight this year’s Build Maine conference.

The two-day event, now in its fourth year, brings together hundreds of experts in planning, development and public policy, government officials and business leaders from across the state.

This year, Build Maine moves to a new home in Skowhegan: the Spinning Mill development on Island Avenue, which is nearing completion.

A ribbon-cutting event for The Skowhegan, the hotel inside the former mill, is scheduled for 4-6 p.m. Tuesday.

Gov. Janet Mills is expected to speak at the event. Mills had toured damage to the project from historic flooding after the December 2023 storm, which the developer said set construction back by several months and millions of dollars.

The Spinning Mill, an 80,000-square-foot building that formerly housed Solon Manufacturing and Maine Spinning Co., includes the 20-room hotel, 41 apartments, a German-themed beer garden and restaurant, and other spaces.

Its developer, Bangor-based High Tide Capital, is planning to continue opening parts of the building in phases through the rest of this year.

The ribbon-cutting also serves as a kickoff to the Build Maine conference, which features workshops and presentations on topics related to planning, development, transportation, housing, and public policy.

Organizers expect it to draw about 250 people to Skowhegan.

“Hosting Build Maine and celebrating the opening of the Skowhegan Spinning Mill demonstrates what strong local leadership, bold vision, and collaborative investment can achieve in Maine’s small towns,” said Kristina Cannon, president and CEO of the local economic revitalization nonprofit Main Street Skowhegan, in a statement. “The conference celebrates the spirit of place — and there’s no better setting than Skowhegan, where historic spaces and ambitious ideas are being transformed into lasting opportunity.”

The program, which runs from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday night, features sessions on zoning, municipal finance, rural housing, parking, small-scale development, and policies to reduce sprawl and protect working lands, according to a news release from Main Street Skowhegan.

Speakers on the program hail from Maine and around the country, including Arkansas, Texas and California.

“The conference is open to municipal leaders, developers, planners, nonprofit professionals, and anyone working to shape Maine’s built environment,” the Main Street Skowhegan release stated.

To learn more about the conference or to register to attend, visit www.build-maine.com.