AUGUSTA — A new set of short videos promotes Kennebec County as a place to live, work, study, play and even just tour.
The Video TourBook is linked through the county’s website, www.kennebeccounty-me.gov, and offers glimpses of various areas of the county in different seasons.
The introduction is by Nancy Rines, chairman of the commissioners, and was produced at no charge by CGI Communications Inc., of Rochester, N.Y., and sponsored by local advertising.
County Administrator Robert Devlin — featured in one segment as he fly-fishes — said he saw the idea offered at a meeting last spring of the National Association of Counties.
“This company is doing this for counties and towns all across the country,” Devlin said. “It is a link to the video and they sell local advertising. I think it’s a great promotion. It kind of gives you an overview of how wonderful we are.”
Devlin said he and the three commissioners — each of whom represent a different area of the county — worked together to select landmarks that would best illustrate the county, which is home to 122,000 residents.
Among them are the State House, Old Fort Western, the University of Maine at Augusta, the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care, the Augusta Civic Center, all in Augusta; the Two-Cent Bridge in Waterville, Cumston Hall in Monmouth, the Kennebec River and various lakes.
It shows public and private schools and colleges and downtown shots of the various municipalities.
Devlin said he and the commissioners exchanged emails with the production company over several months to perfect the script for the virtual tour. Videographer Ron Blair then spent several days filming the sites.
“If people who are thinking of relocating or visiting this area they can go there and get a good idea of what we have to offer,” Devlin said.
He said he learned new things about the area while preparing for the videos to be shot, including Kents Hill School’s heritage as one of the oldest continually operating co-ed prep schools in the country.
“Some things are tucked away, and so sometimes people don’t fully appreciate them,” he said.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com
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