FARMINGTON — Town officials are doing what they can to entice businesses and individuals to make Farmington their new home.

Selectmen voted Tuesday to approve submitting an application for the Certified Business-Friendly Community Program through the state of Maine.

Selectmen also voted to lower the sewer connection fees from $750 to $350. The board and Town Manager Richard Davis are also developing a Welcome Guide brochure to feature the highlights of the town.

The Certified Business-Friendly Community Program is an effort to encourage business development and growth in communities throughout Maine.

Gov. Paul LePage’s initiative is “an important part of showing that Maine is open for business is recognizing communities that provide exceptional service and streamlined regulatory processes for business owners. The Certified Business-Friendly Community Program seeks to identify, recognize and promote communities that show a true commitment to business development,” according to a fact sheet at www.maine.gov/decd/cbfc.

If certified, the town will become a key part of Maine’s Business Attraction strategy, be recognized by the governor, receive signs to promote the town among other recognition.

“We are doing everything we can to be business friendly,” selectmen Chairman Ryan Morgan said Thursday. “We are trying to entice businesses to come to Farmington.”

They are also looking get more families to come as well, he said.

The Welcome Guide will be mailed to those interested in learning about Farmington, he said.

There a lot of plans to publicize it.

Another effort by the board is decreasing the connection fee to hook up to the town’s sewer, Morgan said.

“We knocked it down by $400,” he said. “It used to be $750. It is now $350.”

Prior to making a decision to lower the $750 sewer connection fee per equivalent unit of 175 gallons daily on Tuesday, the board reviewed fees for other towns. They ranged from $50 in Wilton for both residential and commercial, $3,000 per unit in South Berwick.

A single-family dwelling in Farmington with up two bedrooms was charged as one unit, which was $750 to connect to town’s sewer system. It will now be charged $350. Each additional bedroom will be charged an additional half-unit.

Under hotels/motels, the minimum charge for two rooms was $750 and each additional room was charged as a half unit. Under the new system, it is $350 per unit with additional charges for more rooms.

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