Economic Development Activity Report June - July 2008
As usual, the Maynesboro Building and the Industrial Park continues to require a significant amount of attention. Our IT project where we would have made reliable and cost effective broadband internet service available at the Industrial Park has fallen apart. The first negative blow to the project came when Time Warner informed Jon Frenette that they would no longer provide us connectivity under our year old agreement. They gave no explanation other than they no longer offer this type service. This led Jon to quit the project, due in part to the fact that so many changes had taken place in the technology and price which would have required developing all new
specs. Jon could not see going forward since we had lost our point of connectivity and our ability to deliver cost effective service. I then checked with another IT company in Gorham who confirmed the rise in cost of equipment and changes in FCC regulations governing the equipment to be used in projects such as ours. Their estimate for equipment was between $10,000 to $20,000 for equipment and we would still have to find a way to "connect" to the internet. Their recommendation was that we put our project on hold in light of the fact that Fairpoint Communications will be installing equipment that will extend the range of DSL service beyond the present 2 mile range which would make the service available at the Industrial Park. I also met with Mountain Tire Corp and spoke to them about this issue since they were the main reason we became involved and they're ok with waiting to see what Fairpont will offer. As a result of these findings, I recommend that we return the grant
money to DRED with a letter of explanation and appreciation.
We continue to hunt down the leaks in the roof of the Maynesboro building. Hill Street Construction has made several repairs to roof drains and wall flashing, but all of the leaks have not been located. It is a question of finding these small leaks and waiting for the next storm to see if all have been found and repaired.
The air quality in the Isaacson Steel office space has been sampled and sent to a lab, but the results have not yet been received.
Central Paving completed the widening and paving of the driveway and parking area on the westerly side of the Maynesboro Building. I believe that these improvements will allow more parking spaces for trucks waiting to load and unload at Isaacson and Sabbow & Co.
A short tour of all the businesses at the Industrial Park reveals that most of the companies are doing quite well in spite of high fuel costs and recession. Most are reporting higher sales than a year ago and only one company reporting disappointing numbers. One other company reported having difficulty finding enough workers to meet their needs and I'll be meeting with NH Employment Security to see if there's more we can do to find appropriate workers.
The latest labor statistics (June) are as follows:
Coos County unemployment rate = 5.3% Berlin = 5.6% NH = 4.0% US = 5.7%
Jim Wagner and I are presently working with a hair brush company looking to establish a manufacturing plant in New Hampshire. At the present time we're looking at the availability of hardwoods which are used in making the handles. I'm also looking at wood turning machines that may be available in nearby Gilead and Bethel Maine which were once used for making furniture and dowels. This may open the door to an entrepreneur wishing to go into
business.
Norman Charest
Economic Development Director
| 
