Over 60 Boothbay region residents will participate in a workshop designed to examine the local economy’s potential for growth. Camoin Associates, a New York State-based economic development firm, has invited residents to participate in a series of round table discussions focusing on the Boothbay peninsula’s strengths and weaknesses.

The workshop includes a cross section of other peninsula residents, business leaders and municipal officials who will be divided into groups discussing various ideas for promoting economic growth. The forum begins at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12 in the Boothbay fire station with no fixed ending time, according to Boothbay Town Manager and Joint Economic Development Committee member Dan Bryer.

In June, the JEDC hired Camoin Associates to draft a regional economic development master plan. Camoin began examining the region’s potential for expansion on July 14 during a 90-minute van tour of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb and Southport. During the tour, Camoin interviewed 73 stakeholders in the region’s economic development. The firm also separately interviewed Bryer and Boothbay Harbor Town Manager Tom Woodin.

The master plan will  include recommendations on the region’s infrastructure, downtown development, affordable workforce housing, potential tax increment finance districts, and other developmental projects based on community need. “The workshop’s purpose is to assist Camoin in completing its report. This is just the second part of the process,” Bryer said.

During the Sept. 25 board meeting, Selectman and JEDC member Dale Harmon said the master plan has generated tremendous excitement within the region.

“People are excited about this and want to be a part of it,” he said.

The JEDC consists of Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor. Southport and Edgecomb participate in meetings, but neither is making a financial contribution to the master plan. The JEDC has 10 members – four residents each from Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor along with each municipality’s town manager. This summer, the JEDC agreed to spend up to $40,000 on the master plan.

Sixty-three invitees will attend the workshop.