WATERVILLE -- Area residents wanting to see Maine prosper and grow in ways that benefit and protect the state are invited to attend a community forum Thursday hosted by GrowSmart Maine.

The session will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Opera House at City Hall.

GrowSmart is a nonprofit organization of Maine residents seeking to promote sustainable prosperity and protection of Maine's unique character. They include businesspeople, conservationists, political leaders and municipal officials.

GrowSmart commissioned the Brookings Institution, a think tank based in Washington, D.C., to study Maine and propose a plan to build a stronger economy.

GrowSmart President Alan Caron is expected to moderate Thursday's meeting and review the report's recommendations.

"All the great landmark changes in Maine have started with the people, in one way or another, at the local level," Caron said. "Real change doesn't start in Augusta or Washington. It comes from the ground up. Maine is poised for prosperity if we are willing and able to change and find new ways to work together. It won't happen unless people work through our differences, get organized and demand change."

GrowSmart plans to hold similar meetings over the next few months in every Senate district in Maine to spread the word and build support for major changes in Augusta, according to Caron.

People attending Thursday's meeting will be encouraged to take part in the discussion and get involved in organizing community support.

It will be an opportunity to learn firsthand how the Brookings report will affect the community, according to Noah Keteyian, field director for GrowSmart.

"It's also a great opportunity to connect with other people in the community and talk about what we have in common and begin to work together for a more hopeful future."

City Manager Michael J. Roy said city employees are being encouraged to attend Thursday's meeting and he encourages residents to do the same.

"I think the discussion about the Brookings report and how it relates to the future of Maine is an extremely important and timely topic, so I intend on attending," Roy said. "And I really would urge other people in this area to do that too. I think it's the beginning of a very important discussion."

Kimberly N. Lindlof, president of the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, said her organization sent notices to its membership, encouraging people to attend. Other economic development organizations also notified their memberships, she said.

"We're all trying to get the word out there," Lindlof said Tuesday. "They're looking for 'OK, here's a brief overview of GrowSmart, but primarily, here are the next steps; here's what you can do at a grassroots level to move this agenda forward.'"

The report, released Oct. 5, recommends cutting state government, reorganizing schools, simplifying building codes, investing in research and development and reducing taxes.

Maine should create a $190 million fund and invest it to revitalize cities and towns to reduce pressure on rural areas, according to the report. The money also would be used to protect and preserve forests, farms and working waterfronts; improve public access to traditional fishing, hunting and boating areas; and increase tourism promotion.

The state also should create a $200 million fund to increase jobs through innovation, which is the driving force in modern economies, according to the report.