LIVERMORE FALLS – A manufacturer of orthopedic products wants to move to Livermore Falls to set up a light manufacturing operation and a retail store at the former roller skating rink on Park Street.

It’s also looking for any assistance the town or state may have to help grow the business, including a tax increment financing agreement that would put it on the same playing field as businesses in state-sanctioned Pine Tree Zones.

Bruce MacDonald, vice president of Pine Tree Orthopedic Lab now located in North Leeds, explained to selectmen Tuesday that the company was started in late November and is now housed in leased space at the North Leeds Building Supply store on Route 106.

“Our expertise is in comfort shoes for people who have foot problems and who want to prevent foot problems in the future,” MacDonald said.

The company has nine employees from around the area who will move with them, with hopes to expand that number to 15 to 20 within a year from November.

They want to sign a lease with an option to buy, but want to wait until they get Planning Board approval, MacDonald said.

He didn’t realize until last week that they needed that board’s approval, he said, for a site plan review because of a building change of use. The former roller rink is currently occupied by Mega Discount store.

Town Manager Martin Puckett said he has worked with MacDonald to put together abutters’ notices that were sent out Thursday, Aug. 30.

Puckett said that he would try to pull together a special Planning Board meeting within the next two weeks, and plans to look into resources that may be available to the company.

MacDonald, who has been in shoe manufacturing for more than 20 years and retail for longer, said the company is owned by himself, his son, Todd MacDonald, and Junji Tatsuno who is president.

The company manufactures custom-made orthotics, leather-covered ankle braces and diabetic inserts.

It also plans to add a new product line of braces and shoe bottoms for the Tru-Gait shoe that offer a rocker-style sole that allows the wearer to walk like he’s barefoot, Bruce MacDonald said.

“We also are going to be selling Aetrex shoes,” he said, which is a diabetic shoe line. The plan is to stock a wide variety, he said.

People have idea that concept diabetic shoes are ugly, but these shoes have style built in, MacDonald added.

The custom-made products are not just for diabetics, he said. They’re for anyone who has foot problems or wants to prevent them, he added.

They do, however, get prescriptions from doctors and fill the order sheets.

“We have to train people in our lab so they’re making sure they meet doctors’ orders,” MacDonald said. “We have to train people to manufacture to specifications. They have to be certified pedorthists.” The lab is FDA approved, MacDonald said.

Owners plan repairs to the building, if the operation is approved, including reclaiming former roller rink’s hardwood floor and painting the outside of the building.

“We want a Class A retail store that is priced fairly to the people,” MacDonald said.

Selectmen met in executive session for about 40 minutes prior to their regular meeting Tuesday with three board members in attendance to discuss future economic development tax-incentive financing agreements.