I Care Pharmacy chooses county for its Northeast location

    CARIBOU, Maine — Officials with Aroostook Partnership for Progress announced yesterday that I Care Pharmacy has selected Fort Fairfield and Limestone as locations for the company’s packing and distribution centers.
   I Care Pharmacy, a provider of mail order prescriptions owned by Jerry Tanner of Fort Fairfield and Alaska, will initially focus on servicing the state’s MaineCare clients. Tanner and his business partner Terry Greenier operate several businesses in central Aroostook including the Irish Setter Pub restaurant in Presque Isle and Cozy Corner II in Fort Fairfield. Their core business — Anchorage-based Immediate Care — was 18th on Inc. magazine’s Top 500 business compilation for 2006 of privately-owned firms.
Phase 1 of the project is expected to result in an investment of approximately $9 million and the creation of 40 new jobs, according to APP. Additional jobs and investment will be needed as the company grows to serve clients in New England.
“This is exciting news for the Partnership, the county and the state,” said Kris Doody, APP’s chairperson and CEO of Cary Medical Center. “Not only will I Care make a difference in Aroostook County but it will provide a benefit to lot of MaineCare clients throughout the state. I Care has an excellent track record in Alaska and the owner wants to replicate that success in Aroostook County.”
APP team members worked with the owner and Governor John Baldacci’s office to bring this project to fruition. “Sometimes it pays to be in the right place at the right time,” said Walt Elish, president and CEO of APP. “We approached Mr. Tanner at a time when he was just thinking about this concept. Shortly thereafter an opportunity arose to serve MaineCare clients. Mr. Tanner has a very successful business in Alaska and was prepared to take advantage of this opportunity. It’s truly a win-win for the company, the county and the state of Maine.”
The Partnership’s goals encompass a commitment to enhancing northern Maine’s economy by increasing business and investment activity, attracting new jobs, reversing out-migration trends and focusing on increased economic development accountability and leadership. The APP team has been successful in recruiting and/or retaining over 1,000 jobs and $112 million in new investment to northern Maine, according to Elish.
For Partnership information call 207-498-8731 or e-mail the organization at progress@APPme.org.