| Tozier’s Market
was among those hit hard when the mill closed for good in 2004, owner
Mary-Jo Tozier said Saturday in a telephone interview.
She explained that
the store lost about one-third of its business, which made things
difficult.
"We’ve been
waiting for something to come back in to boost the economy in the area,"
she said. "It was a hardship on everyone."
A South Main
Street landmark, Tozier’s has been in business for nearly 21 years.
Just down the
street, Ron’s Cafe had been open just one year when the mill went down.
"I’m going to say
we lost about 20 percent [of our business] at the time," owner Ron Way
said.
The cafe managed
to stay open, and Way literally jumped for joy when he heard of
Cianbro’s plan.
"As a rule, I
can’t jump, but I was right off the floor," the 65-year-old Way said. "I
almost cried this morning when I read it in the paper."
Since the mill
closed, several plans have been proposed for the facility, and each time
he heard something was coming, Way said, he got excited and it gave him
some hope. Then he would learn that plans had fallen through.
"I’ve been
promised probably 20 [or] 30 times what’s going to go in down there," he
said. "This is much more realistic."
The modules —
prefabricated, self-standing building structures that will be
constructed at the facility — will be outfitted with electrical wires
and piping before being shipped out by barge to industrial clients and
joined into larger structures elsewhere, Peter G. Vigue, Cianbro’s CEO
and president, explained Saturday.
Although Vigue
said it will take some time to prepare the site and obtain permits, he
said the company plans to start manufacturing by April 2008.
Way said he
expects to see business improve long before the facility is up and
running again.
"The point is
they’re going to have construction workers," Way said. "That’s what I’m
looking forward to."
Not only will
people be able to go out to eat again and purchase a few luxury items;
they also will be able to buy the toys Mainers love.
"It gives people
toy money, and basically we’re a toy store," Rick Lozier, store manager
at Van Raymond Outfitters, said Saturday.
The Brewer
sporting goods store lost some business with the mill closures in Brewer
and Old Town, but it’s difficult to tell how much, he said.
"Anytime you get
good-paying jobs like that gone, it doesn’t help small business," Lozier
said.
The fact that
Cianbro is a well-known Maine company that’s based in Pittsfield makes
those who have heard the promises before feel more confident that this
project will come to fruition.
"Cianbro’s a good
company," Lozier said.
The reaction from
local businesses isn’t unexpected, and city, state and company officials
who attended Saturday morning’s announcement of the project all said
they were pleased that the ripple effect from the mill closure that was
felt by so many businesses and residents regionwide would be addressed
by the new development.
"We believe that
Maine’s greatest asset is our people," Vigue said, adding that "people
are the very heart and soul of the economic vision" that Cianbro has for
the Brewer project.
Standing in front
of a sign inside Brewer City Hall that read, "It’s all about people,"
Vigue said he’s hopeful that many of the young people who have left
Maine for other opportunities will return home to be part of Cianbro’s
project.
"They’re only
looking for hope and they’re ready to be mentored," Vigue said. "It’s
time to let the world know that Maine is open for business."
Gov. John Baldacci
applauded the city’s efforts, as well as the determination of Vigue to
retain the quality of life people love about Maine while moving the
state’s economy forward for its people.
"We can do
business from here around the world," Baldacci said at Saturday’s press
conference. "These are good jobs. These are great opportunities."
In addition, the
facility will help regain not only the jobs lost when the Brewer mill
closed, but also the positions lost when the Georgia-Pacific Corp. mill
closed last year in Old Town.
"It’s not just a
great day for Brewer, it’s a great day for the entire region," Brewer
Mayor Michael Celli said.
Sen. Susan
Collins, R-Maine, issued a statement applauding Brewer and Cianbro "for
working so hard together and with other government officials to make
this crucial economic development project a reality. … This is great
news for the state of Maine and shows that creativity and collaborative
efforts can help restore our manufacturing sector."
A copyright story from the Bangor
Daily News, Monday, June 4, 2007. |
