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11/06/2009
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Staff photo by Joe Phelanfrom the Kennebec Journal
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Many happy returns in Richmond
Tax woes land on Whitefield
Rapist denied new trial
AUGUSTA MINDING A MINE
SPORT OF KINGS Falconry a blend of dedication and commitment
COLLEGE HOCKEY: Maine rallies but falls short against Boston College
COLLEGE ROUNDUP: Colby women win season opener at home tournament
All of today's:
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from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
WEDDING BURGLAR JAILED
Youths talk Turkey Day
Plenty of free Thanksgiving meals available
Turkey prices make for happier holiday
Kennebec County Superior Court
POLICE
COLLEGE HOCKEY: Maine rallies but falls short against Boston College
COLLEGE ROUNDUP: Colby women win season opener at home tournament
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
AUGUSTA -- The City Council unanimously approved helping local composites manufacturer Kenway Corp. obtain a $300,000 state grant to further develop a new technology that officials say will result in jobs and competitive advantage for Maine's composites industry.
Ian Kopp, vice president and general manager of the Riverside Drive company, said the company will hire 10 new workers for the project. Kopp said he anticipates that, in 18 to 24 months, the grant could result in more than 100 jobs in Augusta.
The $300,000 grant would help fund a $1.8 million project developing a new manufacturing technology. The funds would be primarily used to train workers in the new technology.
Once Kenway workers are trained, the technology would be shared with others in the Maine composites industry, Kopp told councilors.
"Not only will this program train Kenway employees on the manufacturing of these new temperature-controlled molds (TCM), but the program will also disseminate this technology and training throughout Maine's composites industry, making Maine the leader in the TCM process ... and providing the state a competitive advantage in traditional industries like boat-building but, more importantly, in entirely new industries like the burgeoning wind turbine market," the application states.
Kopp told councilors Thursday that once the technology is developed, Kenway would share it with other Maine companies and educational institutions.
Kenway officials, in grant application materials, said the new technology solves a long-term manufacturing problem in the composites industry -- thick composite laminate construction.
Previously, Kenway and other fabricators struggled to build parts exceeding 3 inches thick without the parts becoming distorted. The new process uses vacuum infusion to build parts exceeding 6 inches thick.
Kenway was presented the American Composites Manufacturing Association's 2009 Award of Composites Excellence for developing the new technology with its partners.
The city will submit the grant application to the state on behalf of Kenway.
The grant requires at least 10 jobs to be created.
City Development Director Michael Duguay said the plan is that Kenway will create the new jobs before the city signs the grant agreement. That would absolve the city from the responsibility of possibly having to pay the grant funds back if the jobs aren't created.
The city played a similar role in 2007 when it received a $400,000 CDBG grant to help fund a major expansion at Kenway.
Duguay said it "looks quite favorable" that Kenway and the city will get the state funding.
The jobs would pay about $30,000 a year.
"I hope it is a lot closer to the 100 jobs than the initial 10," said Mayor Roger Katz. "These are skilled, high-paying jobs. We wish we had another 10 Kenways in Augusta."
Also Thursday, Katz declared today John Charest Day in Augusta, in honor of the city's public works director having worked for the city for 40 years.
Charest, an Augusta native, first went to work for the city's Public Works Department in 1965, earning $1.25 an hour.
He left to join the Navy and came back to work for the city in 1969. He held various jobs until becoming director in 1983, a post he's held for the last 26 years.
Katz said Charest has repeatedly put his service to the citizens of Augusta above his own needs.
As the first snow of the season fell outside, Charest, surprised by the ceremony, said he's enjoyed every bit of the job, and that's why he's still here.
Keith Edwards -- 621-5647
kedwards@centralmaine.com
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