Economic Activity Report
May 2008
We continue to be visited by investors and developers who are looking for opportunities in the North Country. Once here to explore their specific interest, they find themselves being driven all over town looking at “other opportunities”. So it was on May 12th when a developer and an investor were here to look at St. Joseph School for their client. Before the five hour visit was over we had looked at St. Joseph, Bass Shoe building, Toussaint Bakery, BIDPA land on Rt-110 and the mill property. Most of these folks appear out of nowhere and we never see them again, others keep calling for more information or just to see if there’s anything new for them to look at. Some of our newer businesses in town have followed that very same path and my estimate is that for every 50 or so visit, we land
one solid new company.
The Maynesboro Building continues to require attention. The leaky roof on the Isaacson side continues to challenge the detective work by our contractor as more than one leak has been discovered and repaired. The roof challenge is also delaying a resolution to the air quality issues reported by Isaacson Steel and this matter will be discussed at the BIDPA board meeting. Last week the safety valve on the hot water tank also at Isaacson’s developed a leak which required calling a plumber for repairs.
Bids have gone out for the widening and paving of the westerly driveway at the Maynesboro Building as discussed at last month’s BIDPA board meeting. It’s my hope that we will receive quotes shortly and the work completed in a timely fashion.
Jon Frenette our IT consultant for the wireless project at the Industrial Park has just reported that we’ve run into a series of problems with our project. Jon reports that Time Warner Cable no longer supports the idea of providing us access to the internet for the purpose of distributing this service to companies in the park. He also reports that there’s been significant changes made to the price and specifications of the equipment needed to deploy the system. We need to keep in mind that this project has been in the works for over a year and, a year in the field of technology equals a lifetime of changes. I should have a better handle on this situation by the July meeting.
I wish to bring to your attention that a new economic development report is just about to be released. Unlike some reports, the Coos County Economic Action Plan is designed to put forth a series of actions for those of us involved in economic development. I urge members of the BIDPA Board of Directors to attend a special two hour meeting at the Northern Forest Heritage Park on Wednesday June 17th. at 4 o’clock. I believe that the information at this meeting will help all of us better understand the challenges we face as well as provide us with a plan for working cooperatively with other North Country communities in developing a new economy for our region.
Norman Charest
Economic Development Director
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