BRIDGTON and GRAY – As Maine struggles to pull itself out of the recession, two Lakes Region communities are altering their approach to economic development.

Gray is expanding the role of its director by hiring a full-time staffer, and Bridgton is adding a planning role to its now-vacant director position.

Alan Manoian, on the job in Bridgton for the last three years, resigned effective last Wednesday in order to move closer to his elderly mother in his hometown of Lowell, Mass.

According to Town Manager Mitch Berkowitz, Manoian’s replacement will serve in a planning role in addition to working to attract and retain businesses. The position will pay about $45,000.

“The emphasis is a little bit more on planning, and so we (will) have a director of economic and community planning and development, as opposed to economic development director,” Berkowitz said Monday. “So we’re trying to round that off a little bit and trying to bring some of that planning aspect into more of what we’re doing for our comprehensive planning process. So a person who has those qualifications and experience is critical.”

Praised by some for his vision and enthusiasm, and criticized by others for moving too quickly toward dramatic change, Manoian was the quintessential salesman for Bridgton. He led multiple walking tours of the downtown aimed at envisioning redevelopment possibilities and worked with young business people in hopes of creating buzz for the town, all in the name of attracting business activity.

“Alan spent three-and-a-half years doing exactly what he was hired to do, and that was to bring a different perspective to how we look at our own community. And as a change agent he also was a lightning rod,” Berkowitz said. “He was oftentimes in a position where he was making recommendations or observations that people didn’t want to hear or were not ready to hear. And as a lightning rod, the criticism came accordingly.

“But I think in the final analysis, there were many good things that were done by Alan that puts Bridgton in a better position of looking ahead through the comprehensive plan process.”

Berkowitz said the town has already received several applications for the new position and that a committee will review the applicants, interview the top two or three and then forward its recommendation to Berkowitz, who will conduct interviews as well, then hire and oversee the new director.

In Gray, George Thebarge, owner of GEOPlan Consulting Services in Westbrook, has served the town for the past four-and-a-half years as a contracted economic development director and planner working about 20-25 hours per week. He is one of the applicants for the new full-time economic development position approved last year by the Gray Town Council.

So far, 25 to 30 people have applied for the position, according to Peter Gellerson, former council chairman and member of the eight-person search committee.

Thebarge’s tenure, Gellerson said, was Gray’s first foray into hiring someone focused on economic development. Gellerson said the committee is “looking for a salesperson for the town, someone who has a good personality and can sell the town to potential commercial developers.”

Gellerson said the town is doubling down on economic development to take advantage of Gray’s location and recent development. He cites the town’s strategic location at the junction of the Interstate and Route 26, which leads to the Oxford casino that is now under construction.

As signs of economic life that need to be nurtured, Gellerson also points to the growing Northbrook Business & Industry Campus off Route 202 as well as the new Hannaford supermarket on Route 26, where a new Norway Savings Bank is slated to be built. Gellerson also points to ongoing negotiations with the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad that is eyeing property at Gray Plaza on Route 100 to relocate its Portland tourist train operation.

“We have a lot of positive things happening, but it’s the age-old story of trying to attract commercial activity to the town to broaden the tax base,” Gellerson said.

Alan Manoian
George Thebarge

BRIDGTON and GRAY – As Maine struggles to pull itself out of the recession, two Lakes Region communities are altering their approach to economic development.

Gray is expanding the role of its director by hiring a full-time staffer, and Bridgton is adding a planning role to its now-vacant director position.

Alan Manoian, on the job in Bridgton for the last three years, resigned effective last Wednesday in order to move closer to his elderly mother in his hometown of Lowell, Mass.

According to Town Manager Mitch Berkowitz, Manoian’s replacement will serve in a planning role in addition to working to attract and retain businesses. The position will pay about $45,000.

“The emphasis is a little bit more on planning, and so we (will) have a director of economic and community planning and development, as opposed to economic development director,” Berkowitz said Monday. “So we’re trying to round that off a little bit and trying to bring some of that planning aspect into more of what we’re doing for our comprehensive planning process. So a person who has those qualifications and experience is critical.”

Praised by some for his vision and enthusiasm, and criticized by others for moving too quickly toward dramatic change, Manoian was the quintessential salesman for Bridgton. He led multiple walking tours of the downtown aimed at envisioning redevelopment possibilities and worked with young business people in hopes of creating buzz for the town, all in the name of attracting business activity.

“Alan spent three-and-a-half years doing exactly what he was hired to do, and that was to bring a different perspective to how we look at our own community. And as a change agent he also was a lightning rod,” Berkowitz said. “He was oftentimes in a position where he was making recommendations or observations that people didn’t want to hear or were not ready to hear. And as a lightning rod, the criticism came accordingly.

“But I think in the final analysis, there were many good things that were done by Alan that puts Bridgton in a better position of looking ahead through the comprehensive plan process.”

Berkowitz said the town has already received several applications for the new position and that a committee will review the applicants, interview the top two or three and then forward its recommendation to Berkowitz, who will conduct interviews as well, then hire and oversee the new director.

In Gray, George Thebarge, owner of GEOPlan Consulting Services in Westbrook, has served the town for the past four-and-a-half years as a contracted economic development director and planner working about 20-25 hours per week. He is one of the applicants for the new full-time economic development position approved last year by the Gray Town Council.

So far, 25 to 30 people have applied for the position, according to Peter Gellerson, former council chairman and member of the eight-person search committee.

Thebarge’s tenure, Gellerson said, was Gray’s first foray into hiring someone focused on economic development. Gellerson said the committee is “looking for a salesperson for the town, someone who has a good personality and can sell the town to potential commercial developers.”

Gellerson said the town is doubling down on economic development to take advantage of Gray’s location and recent development. He cites the town’s strategic location at the junction of the Interstate and Route 26, which leads to the Oxford casino that is now under construction.

As signs of economic life that need to be nurtured, Gellerson also points to the growing Northbrook Business & Industry Campus off Route 202 as well as the new Hannaford supermarket on Route 26, where a new Norway Savings Bank is slated to be built. Gellerson also points to ongoing negotiations with the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad that is eyeing property at Gray Plaza on Route 100 to relocate its Portland tourist train operation.

“We have a lot of positive things happening, but it’s the age-old story of trying to attract commercial activity to the town to broaden the tax base,” Gellerson said.

Alan Manoian
George Thebarge