AUGUSTA – The Maine Development Foundation is accepting applications for its Leadership Maine program.

Forty-five community leaders from the private and public sectors will be selected to participate in the yearlong program.

Briefings are being held throughout the state to give interested candidates a chance to learn more about the program and ask questions of program alumni.

A briefing will be held at the Bangor Daily News from 7:30 to 9 a.m. (breakfast included) Thursday, March 1. Hosts of the briefing will be Elizabeth Hansen of the Bangor Daily News and Candace Guerette of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, both alumni of the Leadership Maine program.

Leadership Maine is an education program committed to building a broader pool of statewide leaders. Leadership Maine focuses on issues important to the overall Maine economy, while augmenting participants’ leadership abilities. The program features topics related to the economy, such as innovative business, healthy natural resources, vital communities, skilled and educated workers, infrastructure and efficient government.

Class members meet monthly in seven locations throughout the state starting in mid-September. The program seeks to give a broader understanding of Maine’s economy and of the current and emerging leadership challenges within it, to help participants refine skills, and to provide a network capable of shaping Maine’s future.

Each year, Leadership Maine seeks 45 leaders with diverse backgrounds from private and public sectors representing every region of the state. The candidates are those deemed most likely to use their leadership abilities for the long-term benefit of the state.

Selection criteria for applicants include: Personal concern about the future economic health and quality of life in Maine and a commitment to take actions which shape that future; demonstrated capacity to lead at the statewide level; a record of accomplishment within their own organization and community endeavors.

Scholarship assistance is available to ensure diverse representation in the class. The application deadline is March 30. Additional information can be found at the Maine Development Foundation’s Web site: www.mdf.org. To register for the Bangor briefing or to request information or a video about the program, contact Dianne Heino at the Maine Development Foundation at 626-3120.