FARMINGTON — Town leaders and business people from across the state are expected to attend the local 12th annual Maine Downtown Conference, Innovation Meets Main Street, on Friday, May 18.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity for downtown leaders of all walks to get together, network, celebrate successes, learn new things, hear new trends, share challenges and successes, and it’s fun,” said Roxanne Eflin, coordinator for the Maine Development Foundation’s Downtown Center, which is sponsoring the event.

It’s one of the most fun conferences in Maine, Eflin said. Energy levels run high, hope and optimism also run through the conference that is based on the “economic and community values of downtown and village center revitalization,” she said.

She’s hoping participants will “catch the bug for downtown” and help “breath more life, more vitality into the heart of Maine.”

It’s a one-day conference but this year it begins with the premiere showing of the film, “The Greenest Building,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 17, in Lincoln Auditorium of Roberts Learning Center at the University of Maine at Farmington. The film explores the environmental value of reusing buildings.

Jane Turville, producer and filmmaker, is expected to answer questions following the screening. A free reception begins at 6:15 p.m. The reception and film are open to the public.

Events on Friday are available only to those preregistered for the conference. More than 300 people are expected. Preregistration is required and online registration closes at noon Wednesday, May 16, she said. More information is available at www.mdf.org.

Maine inventor, entrepreneur and author Doug Hall is the featured conference speaker Friday. Topics will cover four tracks: Business Entrepreneurship, Green Downtowns and Heritage Conservation, Healthy Communities and Local Food, and Organization Leadership and Education.

The conference promotes the best tools and ideas to help business owners strengthen their business.

“Small businesses are the backbone of the state, 85 percent of jobs are connected to small business,” she said.

Three tours are planned to showcase downtown Farmington. Taffy Davis from the Historical Society will provide a historical walking tour. Another tour centers on downtown architecture and historical preservation.

A third tour, this one open to the public, is a “Permission to Shop” tour. Meeting at the intersection of Main and Broadway at 3 p.m. Friday, participants will have the opportunity to explore and spend some money with local merchants, Eflin said.

“It’s a great honor to host and it provides fantastic exposure for Farmington,” Janice Maxham, president of the Farmington Downtown Association, said.

Over a year has been spent by the association in preparation and planning for the conference. Downtown businesses are “sprucing up” for the occasion. Flags and flower planters hopefully will be out and Town Manager Richard Davis is working on getting crosswalks painted before the event, she said.

Local businesses have donated items from their shops to fill conference presenter bags.

They have also prepared 350 gift bags for conference participants, said Gloria McGraw, chairwoman of the conference committee for the downtown group.

The bags include items they hope will encourage participants to come back to Farmington, she said.

About 25 volunteers will help direct participants through sessions held at UMF, the town library, Old South Church and Narrow Gauge Cinema. The last session of the conference takes place in the historic Franklin County Superior Court.

During the conference, Downtown Achievement Awards and other honors will be announced, Elfin said.

“This is not just about downtown, it’s about community. People will learn, pick up tips and ideas that can apply directly to life, family, volunteer and church circles,” Eflin said.

abryant@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link