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Thursday, June 14, 2001
Canadian Chains to build on U.S. 2 By ALAN CROWELL, Staff Writer Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. | ||
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NORRIDGEWOCK — Canadian Chains Inc. will begin constructing a 12,000-square-foot manufacturing, storage and office facility on U.S. Route 2 early next month. Linwood Turner, manager of Canadian Chains, told town Planning Board members Wednesday night that the site had already been cleared. "We are actually on site and things are progressing," he said. Outside the meeting, Turner said his company expects to grow and add jobs. Currently located in the Skowhegan Industrial Park, Canadian Chains hopes to expand employment from its current force of six workers to about 15 workers in a couple of years, Turner said. The new building, to be located on the south side of U.S. 2 a few hundred yards from the Skowhegan town line, represents a substantial investment in the company's plans to grow in the area, Turner noted. He said he hopes the building will be completed, for the most part, in August. Canadian Chains is a division of Jackman Equipment, of Jackman, and is one of the country's largest manufacturers of logging, trucking and industrial chains. The firm makes chains designed to fit around a vehicle's tires to increase traction and protect the tires. Roughly 2,000 square feet of the building will be dedicated to office space, while the rest — about 10,000 square feet — will be used for construction and storage. Turner said his company keeps a large amount of raw material on site. At its highest point, the metal-frame building will be 30 feet high to allow movement of cranes used to move raw materials. Turner said his company has been looking for a site for a new building in or close to Skowhegan for several years. "Skowhegan is fairly much a hub for commercial trucking and we ship a lot of our product through commercial trucking," he said. Turner has been meeting with town officials about construction plans for several months. He said he expects to submit a formal site-plan review application next month. Norridgewock does not require submission of a plan until the value of construction reaches $150,000. Code Enforcement Officer Scott Pierz encouraged Turner to remain in communication as work proceeds. "Stay in touch," Pierz said. To reach Alan Crowell Phone: 474-9534
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