We continue our “Summit Series” posts providing additional information as we count down the days to GrowSmart Maine’s Annual Summit: Flexing the Power of Home Rule: A Path Toward Regional Solutions, on October 22, 2020. Today we share about our unique summit structure, created to be COVID compliant.
Our summits have previously been an in-person, all day affairs, drawing hundreds of attendees to one spot in Maine, for in-depth discussions, workshops, walking tours, and group meals at local restaurants. With COVID, and the advent of a “new normal”, we’ve rethought the format to accommodate social distancing and state limits on in-person meetings.
This year the summit will be in-person across six locations throughout Maine, with a virtual attendance option. Each location will have breakout sessions during the day to allow those who live in the region can discuss issues relevant to them with others from their area. There will be a follow up webinar on October 29, 2020, to continue the discussion of regional solutions, outline ongoing steps, and follow up plans.
This new composition, giving our summit a multi-regional focus, allowing for in-depth discussion in each area, as well as a week for reflection and additional conversation, complements this year’s focus on home rule, and regional solutions.
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The summit will occur on October 22, 2020 from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM, broadcasting via high-speed internet from our primary site at Saltwater Vinyard in Biddeford, to five satellite sites and virtually. Hosted with the support of our regional partners, satellite sites will be limited to 50 in-person attendees and will still have traditional summit elements of in-person discussion and networking, local community tours, and group meals. Breakout discussion sessions will be available for the virtual attendees, as well.
Our regional partners and locations include:
- Northern Maine Development Corporation, hosting at Northern Maine Community College, in Presque Isle
- Eastern Maine Development Corporation, hosting Jeff’s Catering, Bangor/Brewer
- Sunrise County Economic Council, hosting at their own offices, in Machias
- Kennebec Valley Council of Governments, hosting at Snow Pond Center for The Arts in Sidney, and Stevens Commons in Hallowell
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Planners are eligible to earn up to 2.5 credits for AICP Certification Management for attending.
We are excited for the summit to be more than a one-day meeting where people talk about ideas and network, to facilitate tangible outcomes throughout Maine.
Be sure to register soon, as space at each location is limited. We can’t wait to “see” you and talk smart growth solutions!
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