INDIAN TOWNSHIP, Maine (AP) — The leader of the Passamaquoddies says the tribe has nearly completed lining up investors for a $25 million water bottling plant.

Gov. Joseph Socobasin says the proposed plant in Indian Township would provide 96 well-paying, full-time jobs.

The plant is important for the tribe since a defeat at the polls in November blocked plans for a tribe-owned racino.

Socobasin tells the Bangor Daily News (http://bit.ly/tnZGMO) the plant would be the only Indian-owned water bottling company in North America.

He says the water would come from a spring water aquifer on tribal land in Washington County. He says at least one million gallons a day can be extracted without affecting the aquifer’s recharge capacity.

The goal at first is to market the water to Native American casinos and hotel chains.