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Longtime leader of central Maine business park steps down

By Tina Fischer

Jim Dinkle retired as executive director of Oakland’s business park, FirstPark, after eight years with the Kennebec Regional Development Authority, which manages the park. 

Since joining FirstPark in 2017, Dinkle led the park through a period of steady growth, seeing seven lots in the park sold under his term. 

photo of Jim Dinkle
COURTESY KENNEBEC REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Jim Dinkle

Michelle Flewelling, president of the Kennebec Regional Development Authority, praised Dinkle’s leadership and dedication.

“Jim has been a passionate advocate for FirstPark and the Kennebec region,” said Flewelling. “His leadership has laid a strong foundation for the park’s future, and we are deeply appreciative of his years of service, vision and commitment to our communities.”

FirstPark is home to 16 businesses including a T-Mobile call center which employs more than 800 people. Sites range in size from five to 24 acres, and the park is in a foreign-trade zone.

The park has 177 acres that have been developed, with nearly 100 more that could be put to work. Based on the 177 acres in use, First Park ranks No. 15 among Maine's largest business and industrial parks, according to a Mainebiz list that will be published Aug. 25.

Dinkle was credited with overseeing a "period of significant growth," said Mike Roy, past president of the development authority. 

“I’ve been involved with FirstPark since its inception more than 25 years ago, and Jim has been, by far, the best executive director we’ve had," said Roy. "He quickly established himself as a leader in the region’s economic development community and earned the trust of prospects through his prompt and dependable follow-through."

The board is expected to announce succession plans in the coming weeks. 

"It will be very difficult to find someone else of his caliber to follow in his footsteps," said Peter Mills, a board member. 
 

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