Clark provides Industrial Council update
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — City Council received an update Jan. 3 on the Presque Isle Industrial Council, courtesy of the organization’s executive director, Larry Clark.
Clark provided councilors with an overview of what’s transpired over the past year, beginning by explaining that the Industrial Council was created to develop economic development programs on behalf of the city.
“We have 30-plus buildings — oversee and manage over 600,000 square feet of space,” said Clark.
In addition, Clark said the Industrial Council is the “proud manager of 5.5 miles of railroad,” noting that although they don’t operate the rail, they are responsible for maintenance of assets.
“The area we’re responsible for also includes the former Fairview Acres, the office park, Bon Aire housing and the Cunningham site. We’re also responsible for handling four reserve accounts in excess of $1 million,” said Clark.
Clark called 2011 another “busy and interesting year.”
“With the economy, it’s not an easy time to be recruiting businesses. Our objective for 2011 was to retain what we have. We ended the year with the same companies we started with. We continue to work with existing and new businesses to meet whatever their needs were, working with NMDC and APP on leads to try to promote business in the area,” he said.
In addition to the industrial park area, Clark said the PIIC is also responsible for the property designated as the future site of the proposed community center, that included a land swap with the Skyway Trailer Park.
“Another project started two years ago involves continuing negotiations with the FAA regarding exchange of land in the Industrial (Council) deed with land in the airport deed. Airport Manager Scott Wardwell and I approached the FAA — a lot of paperwork but the FAA has approved the exchange,” said Clark.
The exchange involves roughly 27 acres going from the Industrial Council to the Northern Maine Regional Airport, with 14 acres going from the airport to the Council’s ownership.
“It was a no-cost swap with the FAA. FAA officials have agreed to property valuations through appraisal; we hope to have this project completed by this time next year,” he said.
Clark also discussed work done with Northern Maine Community College on the energy lab.
“If all goes well, we’ll be renovating the rest of the 4,200 square foot building for NMCC to continue expanding their program,” said Clark. “That has been a great asset to the college and the city. We’ll continue to develop that working relationship.”
Clark said working with the community college is good for his organization and NMCC.
“They’re sitting there with the ability to train new employees, while we’re trying to attract employers,” said Clark.
Efforts continue to work with the rail operator, Maine Northern Railway, which took control of the rail line from Montreal, Maine & Atlantic last year.
“We’ve had some potential interest in the intermodal facility — interest in warehousing. We have the infrastructure and will continue to work on that in 2012,” he said.
According to Clark, a developer had looked at the former Cunningham school site but decided against obtaining the property. But on a brighter note, Fed Ex had renewed its lease at the Industrial Park.
“We also had over 200 agreements executed for seasonal storage,” said Clark.
As for the financial side of the Industrial Council, Clark said just over $344,000 was appropriated for 2011 but as of the end of the year, December 2011, only $335,000 had been spent.
“We’re ending in the black as far as draw-down. In 2011, projected revenues were around $550,000 but we ended in the $580,000 range,” said Clark.
The PIIC annual meeting followed. Members present included: Frank Bemis, Mike McPherson, Billie Brodsky, Scott Norton, Randy Smith, Larry Clark and Dick Engels. Brodsky was selected to serve as secretary/treasurer, Norton as president and Bemis as vice president, by unanimous vote.
Meetings were set as the second Thursday of the month at 8 p.m.
