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RANGELEY — The town of Rangeley recognizes the importance of improving community infrastructure and diversifying the local economy through public/private collaboration for long-term economic growth and stability. To carry out this mission, the selectmen appointed a Comprehensive Plan Committee, which met several times over three years with advisors, stakeholders and the public to oversee development of the Rangeley Comprehensive Plan (adopted 2012).
The selectmen made it a priority to put the plan’s economic goals into action to fund economic development in 2016. The selectmen appointed the Rangeley Economic Opportunity Committee in March 2016. The REOC includes representatives of the selectmen, Chamber of Commerce, businesses, banking, lodging and recreation interests. REOC members serving three-year terms are Rob Welch, Dave Burgess, Kate Williamson, Perry Williams, Virginia MacFawn, Travis Ferland, Dawn Field, William Pierce, Karen Ogulnick, Leeanna Wilbur, Linda Dexter and Laura Reynolds.
Within this process, the town set aside funds for an economic development consultant. In May 2016 the town contracted with Darryl Sterling to connect Rangeley to grants and other funding sources and to support the REOC in completing an economic development action plan defining the scope of work needed to implement the action plan.
Working together, REOC members and the consultant, through community evaluation, surveys and research have defined six economic development priority goals: 1. Enhance downtown areas of Rangeley and Oquossoc, 2. Community infrastructure upgrades, 3. Economic diversity, 4. Marketing, 5. Attainable housing and 6. Employment issues.
REOC members and the consultant have developed subcommittees working to move these priority goals forward:
Downtown Enhancement Subcommittee: Working on downtown window displays and student art; exploring ideas and resources needed for a downtown revitalization plan.
Infrastructure: Internet Technology Subcommittee: Working on communications, high speed broadband-wireless-internet-cellphone issues; task is to develop upgrade plan and research grants to address issues.
Economic Diversity Subcommittee: Task is to do asset mapping and town inventory, future SWOT analysis to gather ideas, need business friendly practices/development tools, job retention/creation strategy.
Marketing: Events/Conferences/Tourism Subcommittee: Created and distributed new winter events brochure; planning future year-round events.
Attainable Housing Subcommittee: Generated new housing survey to better evaluate housing goals/objectives: survey sent to businesses: 236 surveys completed for a 40 percent response rate; next step: housing inventory.
REOC/consultant accomplishments:
• Economic Development Action Plan: “Growing a Sustainable Rangeley Lakes Region Economy”completed.
• $400,000 MaineDOT Transportation Alternative Grant to extend sidewalks along Main Street/Route 4 to connect downtown to scenic overlook submitted to MDOT.
The town of Rangeley invites public and private input. Please contact the town manager and any REOC member. You can also visit townofrangeley.com for economic development information, meetings and agendas.
