The Annual Meeting will showcase record growth at Dirigo Labs, progress on key projects, and new investment across the region, alongside a UMaine keynote on Maine’s economic outlook and the impact of AI.
WATERVILLE, Maine – Oct. 15, 2026 – The Central Maine Growth Council (CMGC) will host its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, at Bricks Coworking & Innovation Space in downtown Waterville. The event will bring together community leaders, business owners, elected officials, entrepreneurs, and regional stakeholders to celebrate a year of strong growth across Central Maine and look ahead to the opportunities that will define the region’s next chapter.
The meeting caps a year of significant momentum for CMGC and the region. Dirigo Labs, CMGC’s startup accelerator and innovation program, marked its fifth year with a competitively selected 12-company accelerator cohort spanning artificial intelligence, the bioeconomy, advanced manufacturing, healthcare and the blue economy, and welcomed a record 15 early-stage startups into its fall Dirigo Launch Incubator. Since the program’s creation, Dirigo Labs alumni have collectively raised more than $36.5 million in capital, generated nearly $18.1 million in sales and served more than 18,000 customers. CMGC also secured major federal grant awards to scale its commercialization programming across Maine and the region, and $6.2 million in congressionally directed spending for a planned high-performance computing hub with partners Colby College in Waterville.
This year’s keynote presentation will be delivered by Andrew Crawley, Professor, and Elinor Hunt, Research Associate, in the School of Economics at the University of Maine. Drawing on their expertise in regional economic analysis, Crawley and Hunt will examine key economic indicators, including employment and economic output in the greater Waterville region and across Maine, while presenting forecasts for how these trends may evolve over the next five years. They will also explore the potential impact of artificial intelligence on Maine’s economy, including its influence on productivity, business growth, workforce demand, and evolving skill requirements. The presentation will consider what these changes could mean for local businesses, workers, and economic development efforts throughout the region.
Attendees will hear from CMGC leadership as they share the year’s key accomplishments, including the growth of Dirigo Labs, progress on Impact 2027 and new investment in innovation infrastructure, and outline the priorities that will shape the year ahead. The program will also include presentations of the 2026 Developer of the Year Award and 2026 Emerging Leader of the Year Award, recognizing individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the growth and vitality of Central Maine.
“This has been a defining year for our organization and our region,” said Garvan Donegan, President and CEO of CMGC. “From the largest and most diverse portfolio of founders in Dirigo Labs’ history to growing momentum behind 2027 and new investment in the region’s innovation infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for long-term, shared prosperity. Our Annual Meeting is a chance to celebrate the businesses, partners and leaders driving that progress. We’re also excited to welcome Andrew Crawley and Elinor Hunt to share insights on Maine’s economic outlook and the forces, from workforce trends to artificial intelligence, that will shape our region’s future.”
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.Location: Bricks Coworking & Innovation Space, 10 Water St., Suite 110, Waterville, ME
Program: Networking, sponsor/accomplishment showcase, keynote address, and awards presentation
Food & Drinks: Light refreshments will be provided and beverages will be sponsored by Valley Beverage
The Annual Meeting is made possible through the generous support of Valley Beverage, Kennebec Savings Bank, and Bricks Coworking & Innovation Space.
CMGC welcomes business leaders, community members, economic development partners, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in the continued growth and prosperity of Central Maine.
Dirigo Labs is a Waterville, Maine-based startup accelerator and a program of the Central Maine Growth Council. With a mission to grow the greater Waterville area’s innovation economy, Dirigo Labs supports entrepreneurs across the founder journey from the idea-stage Dirigo Launch Incubator to its growth-focused accelerator programming through mentorship, structured curriculum, connections to capital and access to federal SBIR/STTR resources. The Dirigo Labs ecosystem brings together founders, mentors, investors, academic institutions and economic development partners to strengthen Maine’s entrepreneurial pipeline. To learn more, visit dirigolabs.org.
Central Maine Growth Council (CMGC), located in Waterville, Maine, is a public-private collaborative regional economic development partnership funded by municipalities and businesses that share a common vision of economic prosperity for the region. CMGC drives business attraction, expansion and retention, downtown revitalization, workforce development and innovation, including through its Dirigo Labs startup program, to build a vibrant economy and a higher quality of life for Central Maine residents. Learn more at www.centralmaine.org
Media Contact:Amanda WrigleyInnovation and Development SpecialistCentral Maine Growth Councilamanda@centralmaine.org