GREENVILLE – Gov. John E. Baldacci’s proposed Pine Tree Zones have great promise for underserved areas such as Piscataquis County, local officials say.

When and if the Legislature approves the establishment of the enterprise zones, Piscataquis County officials want to be ready to compete for the distinction. Officials plan to meet at 10 a.m. today in Dover-Foxcroft to get an update on the proposal.

The Greenville Board of Selectmen last week authorized Town Manager John Simko to pursue the option of this status for the Greenville Industrial Park. “I believe such a zone – if placed in Greenville – would be the strongest incentive yet for significant business development in the manufacturing field,” Simko said. “It’s a tremendous investment tool.”

Under the current proposal, up to 20 different sites in a county could be designated in the zone, according to Mark Scarano, executive director of the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council. Ideally, he said, the designation could help towns push forward for economic development.

These zones have worked in other states and when county officials traveled to Canada last month and mentioned the proposal, Canadian business executives and owners thinking of locating a business in Maine were interested, Simko said Tuesday.

Although Simko said Piscataquis County, one of the least-served when it comes to manufacturing growth, never will be able to compete with southern Maine, the zone distinction would help reduce the barrier of high taxes.

It is proposed that taxes on income, property, payroll and sales of materials used in construction would be waived for qualified investments by businesses that expanded or relocated because of the zones. The zone distinction would offer enhanced tax-increment financing in that the actual assessed value would be sheltered during a proposed 10-year period, Simko said.

Having a zone in Piscataquis County would level the playing field with larger, more urban communities, according to Simko.