Tourism development in Piscataquis County: Embrace it or avoid it ? Love it or dislike it ? Boom or bust? Others throughout Piscataquis County have had their say regarding tourism development in “their” back yard. Now, it’s your turn. Do you have some ideas and thoughts of your own about tourism? If so, come and share your opinions.

The Greenville forum was originally scheduled to be held on December 7; however, due to inclement weather, the forum has been rescheduled to Wednesday, December 15 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Masonic Temple on Pritham Avenue in Greenville. Refreshments will be provided. For more information about the Greenville forum, please contact Jonathan Pratt - 695-2702 / jonathan@mooseheadlake.org or Susan Crippen - 997-3706 / susancrippen@gwi.net.

More about the study:

In a recent survey conducted by The University of Maine, more than 800 county residents and 450 business owners gave their opinions about tourism activities in this neck of the Maine Woods. Three community forums in December will provide citizens an opportunity to see the results of the UM survey and talk about the future of tourism in this region.

"The opinions and attitudes we hold about tourism are key to any successful tourism effort", says Roger Merchant, University of Maine Cooperative Extension. "The upcoming forums offer a chance to see what the research reveals about us. Public discussions will help residents and business owners see what we are open to for tourism activity.”

Other community tourism forums have been scheduled in Milo-Brownville on December 2nd at the Milo Town Hall and in Dover-Foxcroft on December 9th at the YMCA. Each forum runs from 6-8 PM. The public is cordially invited to attend these meetings and discuss the future of tourism in our region.

“The survey findings and public discussions will inform the tourism strategy for Piscataquis County”, said Extension Educator Merchant. “This UM research partnership is exactly what we need, public information to chart decision-making about our tourism future”

Partners in this county-based research project include Piscataquis County Economic Development Council-Cultural Heritage Ecotourism Committee, Towns of Milo, Brownville, Greenville, Dover-Foxcroft, Southern Piscataquis and Moosehead Lake Region Chambers of Commerce, North Country Healthy Communities, University of Maine Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy, UM Resource Economics and Policy, and outreach partner University of Maine Cooperative Extension.