MILLINOCKET – A thoughtful dialogue.

That’s what Town Council Chairman David Nelson hopes will happen at 4 p.m. today in town hall when the council meets in workshop to discuss the town’s economic development.

Residents are invited.

With unemployment in the Katahdin region typically running about double the state average, and new business start-ups stagnant, most councilors feel a need to help Millinocket grow, Nelson said.

“In all my time on the council, we’ve never had a focused discussion about economic development,” Nelson said Sunday. “Many times it’s been about MAGIC or what we can do to replace MAGIC, but we have never really talked about economic development.”

A quasi-public agency dedicated to promoting business growth in East Millinocket, Medway and Millinocket, the Millinocket Area Growth and Investment Council has been a lightning rod for criticism over the last several years as some residents and councilors have blamed it for the town’s economic woes.

MAGIC’s activities will be discussed, but will not be the focus of the talk, Nelson said.

The discussion points will include:

. An overview of the general steps the town and MAGIC take to promote economic development, provided by Councilor Bruce McLean, MAGIC’s executive director, and Town Manager Eugene Conlogue.

. A general discussion of the land available to the town for development. Councilors will discuss whether the town lacks land, and if so what can be done about it.

. Which economic tools the town has to promote or improve economic development, and their costs.

. A general discussion of key industries and businesses the town should pursue.

. An attempt to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to local economic development.

. What should the council’s role be in future economic development? Should the council rely on someone else to handle it?

Councilors agreed to keep the discussion guidelines broad to encourage brainstorming and free discussion, Nelson said.

“There are going to be some councilors who think that economic development just happens, and those who think that the council should have a very focused role,” Nelson said.

Nelson said he wants to see the council develop a consensus.

“We do more for economic development in this town by showing outsiders that we can work together,” Nelson said. “We do more good for our community if they can see that it’s not all about ‘us against them’ or ‘manufacturing versus tourism.'”