LEWISTON — Mingle, have a cocktail, get inspired.

That’s what John Holden hopes people take away from the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council’s second annual Create event Thursday.

Grand Rounds and Guideline Technologies will be featured as two West Coast companies that have recently grown and expanded into Lewiston.

“We want to just have a conversation with them with other businesspeople in the community and say, ‘Hey, what can we do here to continue to make this community a creative community, both in business and in place?'” Holden said. “What inspired their companies? What also brought them to Lewiston?”

Also planned for Create II:

* Tours of Museum L-A and Bates Mill No. 5

* Details about the upcoming Top Gun LA program

* Details about a new National Endowment for the Arts grant to L/A Arts “that’s all about engaging artisans and artisans as manufacturers as part of the entrepreneur environment,” Holden said.

The event is from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday in the Bates Mill Atrium. Tickets are $25 and registration is open until the event reaches its capacity of 125 people.

About 100 turned out last year.

“In business and in growing an economy, you just have to meet people,” Holden said. “And this is one chance to do it. There’s a lot of local people and everybody knows everybody, but maybe you’ll meet somebody you don’t know or have an idea that sparks a new creative enterprise.”

kskelton@sunjournal.com