The community has spoken.

In five weeks $40,000 was raised, enough to convince Emmy-winning producer Jerry Smith to send his television crew to the Boothbay region.

Never before has Smith produced an episode of “Getting Away Together” on good faith, said Audrey Miller, the fundraising chair. “(Smith) is so impressed with us, he’s going to do the show next week.” 

The television crew is scheduled to film October 4-7, and the producers have already been busy researching the region’s businesses, scenic spots and local characters.

Boothbay will be filmed in the early autumn season, Miller said, but the show’s producers are skilled at capturing the timeless essence of a town, regardless of the season.

“The goal of this program is to portray Boothbay as a vacation destination by highlighting the best of what the region has to offer,” Miller said.

The only caveat is an additional $15,000 needs to be raised by mid-October, or the show will not air on PBS.

Currently “Getting Away Together” airs episodes for 5-7 years while it’s distributed across 80 stations nationwide and 47 million households worldwide.

In the two years the show has aired, tourism industries have benefited from “Getting Away Together,” said Todd Davidson, the executive director of the Oregon Tourism Commission.

“Regions in Oregon that have participated in the program have been very pleased with both the production and the results of the broadcasts,” Davidson said. “We have a third region in Oregon pursuing the funding necessary to bring the show to this area.”

While the stage has been set, fundraising continues in the Boothbay region. Miller said to be on the look out for colorful hats and collection cans while people enjoy Harbor Fest this weekend.

“I’m so grateful to live in a community that’s so involved,” Miller said. “Without the people and businesses that rallied together, this would have not been possible.”

To learn more about the show, or to make a donation, visit www.gettingawaytogetherboothbay.org.

Donations can be mailed to: Getting Away Together, in care of Cottage Connections, P.O. Box 655, Boothbay, ME 04537.