BRUNSWICK, Maine — Washburn and Doughty Associates, an East Boothbay boat builder that specializes in tugboats, hopes to relocate part of its steel boat-building operations to Brunswick Landing and add 15 jobs.
In order to finance the $1 million project, Washburn and Doughty has asked the town of Brunswick to apply for a $400,000 Community Block Development Grant from the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. The Town Council will consider the application on Tuesday, April 26.
According to an April 12 memo from Linda Smith, economic development director for the town of Brunswick, Washburn and Doughty would move its steel-cutting operations, panel-stiffening operation and part of its structural model construction to the 35,295-square-foot building at 54 Orion St.
According to Smith’s memo, Washburn and Doughty “has outgrown its small waterfront facility in East Boothbay and anticipates steady demand for its product over the next few years.”
The estimated $1 million project would include adding four overhead cranes to an existing 10-ton overhead crane; installing piping to support a gas delivery system, a ventilation system and ceiling insulation; and relocating the existing perimeter fence.
The project would be funded with $200,000 in owner equity, $434,000 in bank financing and the $400,000 CDBG loan.
According to the memo, the 12 jobs, including five welders and seven shipfitters, would pay an average of $20 per hour plus benefits and would be filled by Aug. 1.