Located just 35 minutes from Portland, Lewiston-Auburn is one of Maine's thriving economic centers. The Twin Cities are home to four colleges -- including Bates College, which U.S. News and World Report rates one of the top liberal arts schools in the country -- two worldclass hospitals, the state's second largest Chamber of Commerce, a Foreign Trade Zone, and a regional office of the Maine International Trade Center.

Several industries in Lewiston-Auburn continue to thrive and transform what was once a textile and mill center into a modern business, commercial, and industrial powerhouse. Today, Lewiston-Auburn's centers of excellence include health care, high-precision manufacturing, printing/graphics, transportation & logistics, and telecommunications. Banking, commerce, food and beverage production and other service industries are also in abundance.

Companies have fully utilized Lewiston-Auburn's efficient workforce, which has been recognized nationally by Industry Week, Inc. Magazine and employers such as Procter & Gamble. In fact, Lewiston-Auburn is perfectly positioned geographically to tap labor pools in nearby areas including Oxford, Franklin, and Androscoggin counties, where unemployment is traditionally higher.

L-A has the right infrastructure to make business hum. From its multiple modes of transportation -- including rail, air, and highway -- to its statewide ATM fiber-optic based telecommunications network with sonet-ring redundancy, Lewiston-Auburn is a business-friendly locale with worldclass offerings.

L-A is the safest metropolitan area in Maine based on the state's Uniform Crime Report.

Schools

Maine has a long tradition of quality education. In 1999, the National Education Goals Panel ranked Maine as having the best education system in America for the second year in a row. The Washington, D.C.- based Children's Rights Council named Maine the best state in the nation in which to raise children.

The Twin Cities of Lewiston and Auburn have numerous primary, middle and secondary schools. L-A's school system has gained national attention for its innovative programs, including incorporating arts in the classroom through the non-profit L-A Arts organization, welcoming business partnerships, and launching innovative after-school programs.

As for institutions of higher learning, Lewiston-Auburn is home to four colleges, including renowned Bates College and the University of Southern Maine/ Lewiston-Auburn College (one of the fastest growing campuses of the University System).

A gem to the business community, Central Maine Community College and its Maine Quality Center offers businesses customized education and training as well as recruitment and screening of trainees at no cost to qualified companies. Central Maine Community College and L-A College work closely together to share course offerings. They serve as a regional model of intercollegiate collaboration.

Colleges

Bates College
Founded in 1855, Bates is recognized among the top 25 liberal arts colleges in the country according to U.S. News and World Report. The 109-acre Bates campus is located in a quiet residential area in Lewiston. As a participant in the municipal life of Lewiston and Auburn, Bates welcomes and encourages interaction with local businesses, agencies and professional organizations through service learning projects. The Office of Career Services works closely with employers to match graduates with the right jobs.

Typically, two thirds of Bates' 1,700 students study abroad and the majority of students enroll in graduate school.

Bates College infuses an estimated $37 million annually into the Central Maine economy, and attracts an estimated 121,000 visitors to the community annually.

For more information, contact Dr. Elaine Hansen, president, at (207) 786-6100.

Central Maine Community College

Students can prepare for a career in business, health care, computer science or other high-tech industries and enter directly into their chosen field. Through a new two-year Associate in Arts General Studies or Liberal Studies program, students can obtain their core courses at CMCC and transfer to a four-year college or university. CMCC offers a student-centered environment, with small classes and experienced, professional instructors. CMCC also provides customized training for business, industry and job training agencies. Courses may be delivered at the College or at the employer's location, and include both academic offerings and non-credit programs. The college also offers science degrees and boasts a culinary arts center and an acclaimed printing program.

For more information, contact Dr. Scott Knapp, president, at (207) 755-5100.

For more information, please call (207)753-6500 or email lacinfo@usm.maine.edu

Lewiston-Auburn Adult Education
Lewiston-Auburn Adult Education is designed to help workers acquire tools needed to reach their goals in the workplace by either attaining new skills or improving existing ones. The training programs offered are customized to meet both the employees' and employers' needs. These programs are cost-effective and may be offered at the employers' location. Adult education opportunities enable employees at all skill levels to sharpen their existing skills, develop new talents, enhance their self-confidence and discover solutions to workplace challenges.

For more information, contact the Auburn center at (207)784-9220 or the Lewiston center at (207)795-4141.

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The Bottom Line:

• Access to local, national, and international markets via air, rail, and highway.
• Nearly 50 percent of the state's population is located within a 30-mile radius.
• Business-friendly environment.
• Business resources including Maine International Trade Center, Foreign Trade Zone, and an active Chamber of Commerce.
• One of the most advanced telecommunications infrastructures in the northeast.
• Abundant and skilled workforce.
• Nationally recognized quality of life with easy access to Boston, Portland and some of New England's best ski slopes, beaches and lakes.

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