RUMFORD – Jobs at businesses relocating to the River Valley Technology Center in Rumford do not count toward the creation of 40 new ones required by a state grant that helped pay for the center.
That’s what the center’s Board of Directors learned from administrator Rosie Bradley at Tuesday afternoon’s board meeting in the building.
“It has to be new jobs. It can’t be any type of a relocation,” said Bradley, who is also the executive director of the River Valley Growth Council, which owns the center.
Of the jobs created by the center’s six tenants as of Tuesday, only five Career Center jobs can be counted toward the 40, Bradley said. More, however, are pending.
In August 2004, the center, a business incubator, moved into a former bag mill donated by what was then named MeadWestvaco Paper Division.
A business incubator provides shared space and services for a variety of small businesses at lower costs than if they were to stand on their own.
The century-old mill underwent a $2.8 million renovation. Most of that money came from the federal and state governments.
Part of the money was a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant that Mexico acquired. A stipulation for receiving it was the creation of 40 jobs within two years. That deadline is July 1, 2006.
On Tuesday, Bradley told directors that someone interested in creating a light furniture manufacturing business in the former Diamond Match mill in Peru would also be moving into the center as a tenant. That is expected to create three to four jobs.
Another chance to gain a tenant and create jobs could happen after Oct. 24, thanks to the new River Valley Arts Initiative Council. Council member and Rumford Town Manager Stephen Eldridge told directors that staff visiting that day from the Maine College of Art in Portland are interested in using the center’s fourth floor.
“They can’t wait to get here,” Eldridge said. “Hopefully, we can sell them on coming here.”
The arts initiative council has been looking into establishing a studio arts space in the technology center and bringing more opportunities to the area.
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