PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Acme Monaco, the largest manufacturer of orthodontic appliances in the world, sought and received City Council’s support Monday night to pursue grants that will help fund a multi-million-dollar expansion of the company at a new location in the Industrial Park.
Larry Clark, executive director of the Presque Isle Industrial Council, spoke on behalf of the business, explaining what the grant money will be used for, if it is received.
“This is a family-owned business — third generation. Based in Connecticut, they expanded to Presque Isle in 1989. They started out with 5,400 square feet and over the years have expanded to 11,400 square feet” at the Industrial Park, said Clark.
He said they’ve expanded to medical applications, with a branch in Singapore.
“They now have 72 employees on payroll and another eight temps,” he said. “If successful, this project will create 23 new jobs.”
The business started by leasing a single business, then expanded to a second structure in 2006.
‘They’re looking to consolidate both into a single facility — our spec building, which is 16,000 square feet. Consolidating the two locations will give them ample space for their needs today, as well as expansion farther down the road,” said Clark.
Clark said a “build out” will be done on the spec building, to accommodate Acme’s needs.
“The floor plan build-out would be done, as well as a parking lot, amenities, etc.,” Clark said. “The total project cost, when completed, is estimated at $3 million. In order to be successful, grant money will be needed to complete the project.”
He said Monday’s public hearing before Council was one step in the application process.
“We here tonight seeking Council’s approval to apply for a CDBG grant. We’ve been invited to submit a final application, due April 24. It’s a competitive process and we’re not guaranteed we’ll get it. We’ve done a lot of ground work to get to this point,” he said.
Clark said the actual applicant will be the city of Presque Isle, run through the PIIC.
“As part of the process, we’re required to hold a public meeting. Following that, we obtain any comments or questions regarding the meeting,” he said. “Then we need the resolve passed by councilors, in order to submit this.”
“The amount we’re applying for through the CDBG grant is all job-related. It allows up to $30,000 per the number of jobs created — that’s $690,000 from the program at the state level,” said Clark. In addition, Clark said two grants are possible at the federal level. “Through the Economic Development Administration, we could receive about $1.6 million.”
He said he’d heard of another program last week, through the Northern Regional Border Commission, which he’ll be submitting an application for up to $300,000.
“The timing is good. These are all coming about at the same time, with regard to when they have to be in and when they’ll notify us. If we’re successful with the applications, we hope to have final word sometime in July or August on how successful we’ve been with this,” said Clark.
Clark said he was optimistic the project could be under design as early as September of this year.
“That means we could have the project out to bid by January 2016, with occupancy around October 2016,” said Clark.
As part of the application process, he urged those in attendance to sign the attendance sheet and submit their comments.
“You’re not just limited to tonight for questions, later on you can call my office,” said Clark. His number is 764-2542.
Clark said “this is a very exciting project, to say the least.”
Councilor Mike Chasse said it was amazing “to have the world’s largest anything here.”
“Acme’s not just orthodontic but medical as well. One of the reasons the project has a dollar amount on it is two-fold. They need a medical assembly clean room of 3,200 square feet — about $1 million. Another is a titanium room, which is about $125,000,” said Clark, introducing Plant Manager Mark Jarrett, who was in attendance.
“Mark, thanks for believing in Presque Isle and wanting to expand here,” said Chasse.
Councilor Dick Engels, and Industrial Council board member, said he takes “great pride in watching their (Acme Monaco) growth over the years.” Engels then made a motion in favor of the grant application, with councilors unanimously supporting the measure.
