Guilford is seeking a $400,000 business assistance grant to help Doug and Jody Fletcher of Maine Wood Turnings Inc. of New Vineyard with the purchase of Pride Manufacturing Co.'s plant in Guilford.

Brownville is after a $300,000 grant to assist the expansion of X-Ring Industries, a bullet-making company.

"It's a done deal at this point," Jack Cashman, Department of Economic and Community Development commissioner, said Friday of the grant awards, even though the towns must now complete the project development phase of the application process. "They survived the competitive process, so they're in good shape."

Cashman said the state did not have a lot of money for this round because it was the last round of funding in the federal government's fiscal year 2005. The fact that both projects were approved means that Piscataquis County will get a large chunk of the remaining funds, he said.

"We're very excited about both of these projects," Cashman said.

So, too, are Brownville's Town Manager Sophia Wilson and Guilford's Town Manager Tom Goulette.

"The Board of Selectmen and I are very excited about the prospect of X-Ring growing to become a permanent and vibrant business in our community," Wilson said Friday. She said town officials will continue to work with the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council and X-Ring's owner, Craig Sanborn, to meet the grant's criteria.

Goulette said Guilford officials have remained hopeful and have diligently pursued every option. "This is a fantastic opportunity for the town as well as the surrounding areas and in particular those 50 [plus] people who were facing an uncertain future with no jobs," Goulette said Friday. The Fletchers "are just down-to-earth people who will be a good fit for the community."

Doug Fletcher, co-owner of Maine Wood Turnings Co., said the company is progressing with the purchase. "We're very, very pleased that the grant process was successful," he said. The purchase of the plant hinged upon the grant award, he said.

Pride Manufacturing Co. officials have been helping the process along, as well. Because Maine Wood Turnings Co. will need more workers than are currently employed at the facility and in anticipation that the sale will go forward, Pride officials have been advertising for workers.

"We're that much further along," Fletcher said.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Saturday, August 27, 2005 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."