WHEREAS Piscataquis County has for decades demonstrated a poor and struggling economy through unemployment at levels higher than the state average and other indicators, and;

WHEREAS Piscataquis County has seen a significant 15-year decline in employment levels of county residents due to such regional factors as the closure of Dexter Shoe Company plants in Dexter and Milo (600 jobs lost); the closure of two sawmills in Greenville (130 jobs lost); the bankruptcy of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad which passes through our county and the closing of the Great Northern paper Company in Millinocket and East Millinocket, which affected Piscataquis County residents and businesses, and;

WHEREAS business and community leaders in Piscataquis County have joined together since 1998 to forward economic development across the county and to work to replace these lost jobs through the development and good work of the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, and;

WHEREAS the members of the PCEDC have devised and Piscataquis County has adopted a county-wide strategic plan for improving our regional economy, and;

WHEREAS municipal and county officials working with business and community leaders recognize that to achieve the goals for a stronger, more diverse and sustainable economy across the county and across multiple employment sectors, certain infrastructure deficiencies need to be addressed, and;

WHEREAS Piscataquis County has sought and has received legislative approval to borrow funds to address such infrastructure deficiencies necessary for private sector investment and job creation, and voters across Piscataquis County will have the opportunity to consider this bond package at the November 2, 2004 general election, and;

WHEREAS the funds for these projects in Milo, Dover-Foxcroft and Greenville will make possible industrial growth and related job creation in each of these major service centers of Piscataquis County, hence improving job opportunities for ALL residents within Piscataquis County;

THEREFORE, the Board of Selectmen for the Town of Greenville hereby RESOLVE to support this proposed Piscataquis County Economic Development Bond totaling $952,000 which we believe will ultimately result in the creation of high-quality job opportunities for the people of Piscataquis County.

Resolved Wednesday, August 18, 2004 by the Board of Selectmen for the Town of Greenville:

Bonita DuBien, Chair

Alan McBrierty, Vice-Chairman

Bruce Hanson, Selectman

Burton Whitman, Selectman

Attest:
Carroll Smith, Selectman

John Simko, Town Manager