HOULTON, Maine — Prior to the start of the new year, members of the Southern Aroostook Development Corp. gave the Town Council an update on what they had accomplished in 2016 as well as a glimpse of their future goals.
Scott Dionne, past president and board member of SADC, briefed members of the council at the Dec. 28 meeting. He said that SADC, an organization that has worked for more than 16 years to boost the economic base of the region, had achieved a number of significant accomplishments in 2016.
Dionne also stated that SADC board members had worked with Community Development Director Nancy Ketch to pull together the Houlton Entrepreneur Challenge that began on Sept. 1. A partnership between the town, SADC and Machias Savings Bank, the goal is to attract entrepreneurs with a $35,000 incentive for new business ideas, existing businesses with a new idea or plan to expand and businesses outside the area considering investing in Houlton. The winning business will get a package that includes a $25,000 forgivable loan and donated services by several areas businesses.
“We learned a lot in the process of putting that together,” said Dionne, also crediting Jon McLaughlin, executive director of SADC, for his work in the process. “Jon was instrumental in pulling together money for this and we have learned a lot about businesses who are looking to grow and come to town and folks who want to get into business and maybe work for themselves.”
He also said that the new 6,000 square foot speculative building located on a lot at the industrial park at the airport is another accomplishment for the group. The board of directors of the Shiretown Development Corp., which consists of all seven councilors and functions as an economic development arm for the town, approved the project seven months ago. The $270,000 to construct the building came from the town, with the goal of then putting the structure up for sale in hopes of attracting an existing business to expand or a new business to move in and customize the building to suit its needs.
Dionne said that McLaughlin and other SADC directors worked on the project with the town.
“We have one area business looking to move into it,” he said. “Hopefully, that comes to fruition.”
Dionne said that SADC also worked with the Maine Department of Transportation to negotiate a deal that allowed the Visitors Information Center, located just off Interstate 95, to be put up for sale in September. SVN/The Urbanek Group, a Portland-based business for commercial real estate brokerage and marketing services, was selected to sell the property for the town for 8 percent gross sale commission if they are the sole broker and 10 percent gross commission if it is co-brokered.
