WILTON – What is good news for Wilton is good news for the region, Franklin County officials said.

Nichols Development LLC of Farmington, the new owner of the G.H. Bass & Co. complex on Weld Street, is relocating its custom-made trailer business, Nichols Custom Welding Inc., to Wilton.

The partnership plans to seek manufacturing companies that will move their businesses to Franklin County to provide jobs. The region has lost more than a 1,000 jobs since 1998 with the closings of shoe and wood product manufacturers.

Wilton Town Manager Peter Nielsen said the town in December was looking at the possibility that the building would be nearly vacant. With Thursday’s announcement, officials have a brighter outlook.

Nielsen commended the Wilton Development Corp., the Greater Franklin Development Corp., the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments and the state Department of Economic and Community Development for working together to find a master developer for the complex, now known as Nichols/Bass Business Technology Center.

The Wilton Development Corp., a 10-member volunteer board, fulfilled the task selectmen assigned it, he said.

“It’s good news,” Nielsen said Thursday.

Farmington Town Manager Richard Davis said he was sorry to hear that the company was leaving Farmington but happy for the company at the same time.

“I’m confident a prime property like that in that location won’t stay empty long,” he said. On the upside, Davis said the partnership’s plan to seek businesses to fill the facility and provide employment would be good for the people in Farmington and surrounding areas who need jobs.

Greater Franklin Development Corp. Executive Director Alison Hagerstrom said the Wilton Development Corp. worked hard to clinch the deal. Members of the latter corporation were not available for comment.

Hagerstrom’s agency helped with marketing, she said. They sent out information to more than 100 organizations in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

From her perspective, Hagerstrom said, it was really a good group of people to work with.

“We all had our expertise we brought to the table,” she said. “It was an incredible team. This was such an incredible working model, I would like to duplicate this same type of effort in other parts of Franklin County.”

Nichols Development LLC “certainly has the enthusiasm and energy to make it work,” she said.