New innovation and development specialist role, filled by Amanda Wrigley, to focus on place-based ecosystem building and economic programming.
WATERVILLE — The Central Maine Growth Council is pleased to welcome Amanda Wrigley as its innovation and development specialist. In this role, Wrigley will be working to drive economic growth, encourage innovation and support workforce development in the greater Mid-Maine community.
Wrigley joins CMGC with a diverse background in higher education, workforce development, community engagement, entrepreneurial ecosystem building and nonprofit event management. Most recently, she served as the events and community outreach manager at the Travis Mills Foundation where she led fundraising and community events, supported marketing and communications, and cultivated partnerships that advanced the organization’s mission. Prior to that, Wrigley served as director of professional and career development at Thomas College, where she developed employer partnerships, expanded experiential learning opportunities and connected students with meaningful career pathways throughout the region.
“I am thrilled to join the Central Maine Growth Council and contribute to the continued growth of the community I proudly call home,” Wrigley said. “I’m excited to support local entrepreneurs, strengthen connections across our region, and help create opportunities that empower businesses, innovators and the people who live and work here.”
As innovation and development specialist, Wrigley will lead marketing and communications efforts that elevate the visibility of CMGC, Dirigo Labs, and the organization’s economic development initiatives. She will support stakeholder engagement, workforce development and strengthen relationships with academic, community, and business partners, and coordinate events that showcase the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit that propels central Maine forward.
“Amanda’s appointment marks a pivotal step in our strategy to aggressively scale Mid-Maine’s innovation economy,” Garvan D. Donegan, president and CEO of the Central Maine Growth Council, said. “By establishing this highly specialized role, we are doubling down on our place-based economic development efforts. Amanda brings a rare blend of tactical event execution and strategic community-building that will be instrumental in amplifying our flagship initiatives, particularly Dirigo Labs. Her expertise will directly translate into stronger networks for our local entrepreneurs, robust stakeholder engagement and sustained, dynamic growth for the region’s and the state’s broader economy and startup ecosystem.”
Central Maine Growth Council, located in Waterville, Maine, is a public-private collaborative regional economic development partnership funded by municipalities and businesses who share a common vision of economic prosperity for our region. CMGC is committed to fostering a robust regional economy. Our belief is that the standard of living and quality of life of our citizens is best served by a vibrant, healthy economy. This is accomplished with a strong successful business community. Learn more at www.centralmaine.org
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.