New owner for cannery expected soon
State officials announced Friday a new company could assume control over the Bumble Bee cannery in Prospect Harbor before the end of this month.
Gov. John Baldacci told the Ellsworth American a buyer for the former Stinson Seafood Co. sardine factory could come in as little as seven to 10 days following a meeting he had with Chris Lischewski, Bumble Bee's CEO. Lischewski told the newspaper that several seafood processors, which are based in the Northeast, elsewhere in the United States and in southeastern Canada, have shown interest in the facility. Two of them are regarded as strong prospects with the potential to create 110 to 130 jobs, Baldacci told the newspaper.
Lischewski told the Bangor Daily News that Bumble Bee officials plan to be "very reasonable" in its terms for selling or leasing the plant over to a new operator with the hope the new firm will employ a similar number of people and give existing employees the first opportunity for those jobs. Baldacci told the paper state officials hope the prospective company would be able to renovate the plant and open on July 1 so they can be ready for Maine's busy lobstering season, which runs from mid-summer through fall.
Bumble Bee officials announced in February they would close the Down East plant on April 18 after federal catch limits for Atlantic herring were released, which will put 128 employees out of work.
Go to the article from the Ellsworth American >>
Go to the article from the Bangor Daily News >>
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