RUMFORD – Mexico Town Manager John Madigan left Tuesday afternoon’s River Valley Technology Center’s board meeting in a happy mood.
Up to 16 jobs could be created at the technology center, if three business owners follow through on their interest in relocating in the center. Executive Director Rosie Bradley would not name them at the meeting.
Madigan is especially pleased because Mexico acquired a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant toward the center’s $2.8 million renovation project.
A stipulation for the grant was that 40 jobs had to be created within two years. That deadline is July 1.
According to the center’s Jan. 24 board meeting minutes, a total of 12 jobs have been created so far.
Bradley told the directors Tuesday that two of the three businesses are ready to become tenants, and plan to use 7,000 square feet on an upper floor.
But what’s stopping them are the lack of stairs to the floor and needed infrastructure, like plumbing, electricity, lighting, heating, air conditioning and, on the fourth floor, asbestos removal.
When he heard this, Madigan said, “I need 40 jobs. If it takes 40 steps to get 40 jobs, I move we get those stairs.”
Directors unanimously agreed, authorizing the Building Committee to accept the lowest of three bids – $32,199 – to construct stairs to the third and fourth floors.
Bradley declined to name the selected bidder, both during the meeting and after it had adjourned. But she did tell directors that he is a Livermore man who owns a metal fabrication shop.
The bid includes a fireproof exit out of the building in the basement.
Other bids were $66,880, which included the fireproof exit, and $58,825, which excluded the exit. Bradley would not say who made the bids.
The board plans to use $32,199 from its line of credit with Bangor Savings Bank to finance the construction.
In other business, Bradley said a metal fabrication business owner had expressed interest in becoming a tenant. That decision is expected to be made within the next 90 days.
The business, Bradley said, would retain three jobs and create three to four new ones.
“Hallelujah!” Madigan responded.
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