ROCKLAND, Maine — A manufacturer who could bring up to 40 jobs to the community is looking at Rockland as one of two potential sites, the city manager said Friday evening.
The city council held a closed-door meeting Friday afternoon to discuss the offer for the city’s last available lot in its industrial park. The council is expected to vote Monday night to authorize the city manager to sell the 30-acre lot to Rockland Industrial Park North LLC.
That limited liability company is being created for the acquisition. The identity of the manufacturer is not yet known by the city other than that it is a speciality manufacturer that wants to expand its operation, the city manager said following the Friday meeting.
The manufacturer is being represented by the Portland-based real estate brokerage company The Dunham Group.
“The Dunham Group has not identified their client but has shared, at present, [that the] client is in the process of evaluating sites for a significant expansion of its specialty manufacturing capabilities. The city of Rockland has been chosen as one of two potential locations for the expansion. If the project proceeds, it would represent the creation of a large manufacturing complex employing upwards of 40 people,” City Manager James Chaousis said.
The manufacturer is considering Rockland because of its vibrant community, coupled with the quality of life a coastal community would offer the plant’s employees, the availability of a qualified workforce and competitive labor rates, Chaousis said.
The city owns the land but has placed an assessment on it at $280,800. The city manager said, however, the fair market value of the property is estimated at $107,000. He said that $125,000 would need to be invested in the property for infrastructure to reach the fair market value. There are considerable amounts of wetlands in the 30 acres.
The Dunham Group is offering $50,000 on behalf of the manufacturer for the land.
The city manager hired Gartley and Dorsky Engineering and Surveying to explain the intricacies of the property in order to assess its value. He also asked Douglas Erickson of Coldwell Banker Commercial Soundvest Properties to create an estimate of fair market value. After reviewing the reports, the council immediately ordered its release.
The council will have engineer Will Gartley, Rockland Economic Director Audra Caler-Bell and Chaousis offer a presentation to the public Monday evening about what was discussed in the closed-door session, the manager said.