Boatbuilder resolves rent issue, full steam ahead
Millennium Marine owner Cory Guimond. Guimond resolved a recent dispute with the city of Eastport over alleged back-rent. "Millennium is financially secure and has plenty of work ahead,” Guimond said.
Millennium Marine and the city of Eastport are in the process of resolving an alleged back-rent issue of about $25,000, the Quoddy Tides reported.
Owner Cory Guimond moved the firm from New Brunswick to Eastport in 2014 and began building up its workforce to keep pace with a surge of orders for fiberglass work vessels.
The move to Maine was made for its many upsides. The United States represents about 75% of Millennium's market for fishing boats. There also is potential for expansion into passenger and cargo boats, which were otherwise restricted by the Jones Act.
Eastport is a deep-water port and has slightly warmer weather that prevents the harbor from icing over in the winter, making those months available for boat launches. The city was eager to have a tenant to make use of a grant awarded to renovate an historic mill building for industrial use. The $1.42 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration is for renovating the 60,000-square foot mill. Guimond picked up on the opportunity, invested an additional $75,000 and retrofitted about half of the space for boat production.
Earlier this month, The Quoddy Tides reported, Guimond chastised Eastport city councilors for releasing information about the alleged overdue back rent. Guimond said there is a discrepancy on who owes what. Nevertheless, Guimond paid the bulk of the $25,000 immediately, with a promise to complete payments later in the month.
In 2015, the workforce peaked at 30 and averaged 25, all full-time positions.
"Millennium is financially secure and has plenty of work ahead,” Guimond said.
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A boon for boat builder: Millennium Marine grows jobs in Eastport
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