Skowhegan Wants to Grow as Hub of Food, Agriculture Tourism

Officials in the Somerset County town of Skowhegan are considering using a tax designation to grow the community's status as a food and agriculture hub and destination for visitors.

The Morning Sentinel reports an oversight committee wants the town to renew its downtown tax increment financing designation with the state for another 18 years. That would allow the town to use new property taxes from commercial investment to invest in future growth.

The committee and Main Street Skowhegan want to focus on growing retail and wholesale agricultural businesses. They also want to grow year-round family recreation, green energy and solar projects and support a whitewater park through the Kennebec River Gorge downtown.