LEWISTON — While the Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council decides what its future holds after both cities axed funding, it’s handing off two popular programs.

Scott Benson, LAEGC’s economic and business development director, said Tuesday the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce will take over Top Gun LA and the annual Maine B2B Trade Show.

Auburn cut funding to the LAEGC last year, and Lewiston cut funds as of July. They made up 53 percent of the LAEGC’s annual budget.

“We had enough carry-over funding to continue for several months now so that we could figure out, a) what’s the future of the growth council, and then, b) let’s say the worst comes to pass and there is no more growth council … that’s where the chamber stepped in,” Benson said.

Chamber President Beckie Conrad said she sees Top Gun LA as a natural fit. The training and mentorship program, organized by the Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development and run in other parts of the state for years, came here for the first time early this year.

The Top Gun online application period opened in late October and runs though Jan. 10. The program pairs young companies with mentors and weekly lessons, and culminates in a statewide pitch contest in May.

The other program being taken over by the chamber is the annual B2B Trade Show, which typically draws thousands of business people.

Benson noted that LAEGC will continue to maintain its $3.5 million commercial loan portfolio.