Thanks to a high level of trust and respect cultivated between the State officials and the PCEDC, the Maine Dept. of Economic & Community Development (DECD) forwarded the interest of Creative Apparel, a manufacturer of chemical resistant military outerwear, in expanding its operation to either Piscataquis or nearby Penobscot county. The company initially looked at the larger region in order to take advantage of the skilled workforce (stitchers in particular). They needed a 15,000 s/f building and stated that they would hire approximately 30 people to start with the possibility of up to 70 later on. The PCEDC placed much time into meeting the Creative Apparel's needs in order to attract the company to the County. Below are some of the highlights of our attraction efforts.

The Creative Apparel Building in the Pine Crest Business Park

• Laid groundwork for long term space needs. Creative Apparel had specific manufacturing space needs that could only be met with new construction. Additionally, the company did not want to own their facilities. The PCEDC worked with municipal and state officials to design a 15,000 s/f building for the company using public funds.
• Accommodated Creative Apparel's immediate and temporary space needs. The Company had numerous government contracts in the works and had specific deadlines for product delivery. The PCEDC provided a confidential site search for the company so that it could meet its contractual obligations. The PCEDC then organized meetings between company officials and local property owners willing to consider a 3-4 month lease (until the company could move into a newly constructed building). Some members of the PCEDC Board of Directors volunteered their expertise by compiling construction cost estimates in order to get the temporary property up to specs. Creative Apparel eventually leased space within the Brown's Mill complex, Dover-Foxcroft (for a picture of the facility, click here).
• Worked closely with officials at the Pine Crest Business Park to provide site information for Creative Apparel.
• Creative Apparel officials requested proof of an available and qualified workforce. In order to meet this demand, the PCEDC distributed "Help Wanted" posters in and around Piscataquis County alerting people of the opportunity to apply for work. In addition, the PCEDC advertised the application process through numerous media outlets including: print ads in local newspapers, discussions before three area Kiwanis Clubs, and a live radio broadcast. Applications were being made available at most municipal offices as well. Creative Apparel requested that their interest be kept anonymous and, therefore, all applications were generic in nature. Approximately 24 qualified people filled out applications; exceeding the company's request for at least 20 applicants.
• Coordinated with Training and Development Center and Career Center officials (Dover-Foxcroft office) to mail "Help Wanted" notices to people recently laid off at the Milo Dexter Shoe factory. It was widely suspected (and true) that most of the workers there could easily adapt to textile stitching.
• Hosted an open application day for Creative Apparel at the PCEDC office. Representatives from Creative Apparel were on hand to answer questions from those interested in employment and gauge qualifications. (Creative Apparel was under no obligation to hire any of the applicants during this process). The Company's anonymity was successfully preserved throughout.
• Creative Apparel requested and received population and demographic statistics of the greater Piscataquis County area from the PCEDC.
• Coordinated a meeting between Creative Apparel management, the Town of Dover-Foxcroft, Pine Crest Development Corp., and the Maine Dept. of Economic & Community Development regarding financial help in constructing a 15,000 s/f building. The PCEDC assisted in the writing a $400,000 CDBG Economic Development Infrastructure grant to be matched by a $550,000 municipal bond by Dover-Foxcroft. The State of Maine approved the grant and Creative Apparel's lease only covers payback for the municipal loan. This allowed the company to have up-front lease savings in order to better absorb the Dover-Foxcroft expansion.
• As of 6/04, the company has hired almost 60 workers.