On June 24, 2004, the Town of Greenville will host its many partners at the groundbreaking for the proposed Greenville Business Incubator. Over two years in planning and development, this facility will be the home to new high-tech businesses primarily in the wood composites field. This facility and its program offerings will encourage businesses to grow in the rapidly-expanding field of composites. It is expected the graduates of the incubator will start companies that will locate within and employ workers from Piscataquis County.

To accomplish this, the Town of Greenville breaks ground today on the construction of a 10,000 sq. ft. steel-framed building on a cement slab. The Town will own this facility and lease it to the Composites Technology Centers (CTC) Corporation to administer the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) Program as funded by the State of Maine for Composites. The CTC currently operates a similar facility in Sanford, Maine: the Greenville Business Incubator will be a satellite of the Sanford facility, as will the University of Maine's Advanced Engineered Wood Composites (AEWC) Center.

The construction of this 10,000 sq. ft. facility represents phase I of a larger intended project which will result in an 18,000 sq. ft. facility. Additional funds to pay for the addition are actively being sought by the Town of Greenville and many of its partners through the proposed Piscataquis County Economic Development Bond going before voters in November 2004.

The facility has been engineered and designed by A.E. Hodsdon Consulting Engineers of Waterville and the contractor for the project is C and N Builders of Hudson. Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC) and the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council (PCEDC) have helped develop this project from the beginning and will market this space to prospective tenants. The University of Maine's on-going and successful efforts to develop new technology in the wood products fields will be realized through commercialization. The Greenville Business Incubator is designed add value to our forest products economy by assisting new businesses in these emerging markets.

Speaking at the June 24 groundbreaking ceremony will be:

John Simko, Town Manager of Greenville - Welcome and Thanks
Dr. Habib Dagher, Director of the AEWC - Maine and Wood Composites
*The Hon. John Baldacci, Governor of the State of Maine - Growing Our Economy
*Due to heavy fog, Governor Baldacci was unable to fly in. Department of Conservation Deputy Commissioner Karin Tilberg related comments on behalf of the Governor.

Michael Grondin, Business-Cooperative Services Program Director – USDA Rural Development
Tony Bartley, Piscataquis County Commissioner
Bonita DuBien, Chairman and Member, Greenville Board of Selectmen
Roger Hamilton, President – C and N Builders, Inc. of Hudson, Maine

Many thanks to all who have helped to make this project possible, many of whom are listed below:

The Hon. John Baldacci for his support and leadership in securing funds for the Advanced Technology Development Centers Program and his commitment to making a brighter future for rural Maine.

Former Governor Angus King

The Hon. Susan Collins and her very capable staff for securing federal funds for this project.

The Hon. Olympia Snowe and her capable staff for securing federal dollars for this project.

The Hon. Michael Michaud and his staff for assisting in the receipt of federal dollars for this project, and for his work as the President of the Maine Senate to likewise secure scarce state dollars for this program.

The members of the Piscataquis County Legislative Delegation – past and present – for their support in securing state bond funds for this project.

A.E. Hodsdon Consulting Engineers Mark McCluskey and Al Hodsdon of Waterville

Gary Nichols and his fellow employees at C and N Builders of Hudson, Maine

Piscataquis County Economic Development Council members, especially the hard work and leadership of Mark Scarano, Executive Director

Eastern Maine Development Corporation's many resources, especially Senior Development Specialist John Holden for his original thinking as the creator of this project proposal.

Greenville Steam Company, especially General Manager Scott Hersey for his diligence and persistence in making this project happen.

The Inhabitants of the Town of Greenville, their Board of Selectmen and many Town employees for collectively advancing this project in the hopes of great economic and community benefit despite tangible financial risk.

Piscataquis County Commissioners

University of Maine Department of Industrial Cooperation and Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center

United States Department of Agriculture division of Rural Development

United States Economic Development Administration

Forest Products Maintenance Corporation

Composites Technology Centers Corporation

Maine Department of Economic and Community Development

Maine Community Development Block Grant Program

Maine Department of Conservation