Dragon closes facilities
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — A decline in construction activity around the state is being given as the reason for the closure of Dragon Products Company, LLC’s ready-mix concrete plants in Presque Isle, Frenchville/Madawaska, Augusta and Fairfield.
The closure took effect Dec. 28. Company officials met with employees in Augusta and Presque Isle to inform them of the closure and to present severance benefit information. A total of 19 employees will be affected by the company’s decision. Employees are usually laid off during the slower winter months but go back to work typically in April, when the construction season starts up again. This won’t be the case this year.
David Grinnell, New England regional sales director for Dragon, told the Fiddlehead Focus company officials regret the decision but the poor construction climate the past four years in Maine led to the difficult decision.
As the economy improves, company officials will continue to reevaluate Dragon’s business in Maine.
Dragon Products Company is a vertically integrated cement and concrete company with locations throughout Maine. The company was incorporated under its present ownership in 1988 and is one of three cement companies owned by Giant Cement Holding, Inc., a subsidiary of Cementos Portland Valderrivas, S.A., the largest cement producer in Spain. The cement facility, located in Thomaston, has been in operation for over 60 years and is the only cement manufacturing facility in New England.
Attempts to reach company officials for more details were unsuccessful at presstime.
