Maine Poly plant has list of potential buyers

GREENE – At least four companies are making serious inquiries about buying Maine Poly, the plastics manufacturer that filed for bankruptcy in July.

Greene Town Manager Steve Eldridge said one of the suitors is an international company that owns other plastics operations. But neither he nor John Turner, the bankruptcy trustee, would identify the companies by name.

“It’s delicate, obviously,” Turner said. “We don’t want to get people’s hopes up.”

Maine Poly, which once employed as many as 250 workers, manufactured custom plastic packaging for everything from junk food to computers. Its customers included L.L. Bean, Old Town Canoe, Dexter Shoes and Poland Spring Water.

But on June 29 it abruptly informed its remaining 123 workers that the plant was closing. The company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on July 11, estimating it had $9 million in assets and $13 million in debts.

Eldridge said officials from the worldwide company told him they’d like to take their time when they look at properties to buy.

“I think the state of Maine and the town of Greene would love to see them come here,” Eldridge said.