State officials to meet with Kent Inc. leaders Legislator plans discussion with employees

FORT KENT – Government officials will huddle today with Kent Inc. executives to try to figure out how to save more than 175 jobs at a local children’s clothing manufacturing plant.

Later in the day, a legislator will meet with Kent employees to let them know of any developments from the earlier meeting.

State Sen. John L. Martin, D-Eagle Lake, said he plans a meeting to which all employees of Kent Inc. are invited. Martin’s meeting will be in the Fox Auditorium at the University of Maine at Fort Kent at 2 p.m. today.

Earlier in the day, officials of federal, state and local agencies will meet at UMFK to look at what, if anything, can be done to assist Kent Inc. and its employees. That meeting will be at 10 a.m. today in the UMFK Grindle Conference Room.

Kent announced earlier this week that it plans to close its Fort Kent plant in early to mid-November unless an infusion of $1.5 million to $2 million is found to assist in capitalizing the company.

According to the company, 175 people work at the Fort Kent plant where children’s wear is manufactured. Through different owners, the clothing manufacturer has been in Fort Kent since the early 1960s.

“I just think the employees should be told as quickly as possible what is being looked at and what may be done,” Martin said Thursday afternoon. “After all, they are the ones with the most to lose in this situation.

“I don’t think it’s fair that we hold a meeting about their future and not tell them immediately what is going on,” he said. “They have a right to know whatever we know at this point.”

Martin’s senatorial district encompasses the towns where more than 90 percent of plant employees live. Others, about 7 percent of the work force, live in Canada.

Martin said he called the meeting for Friday afternoon because most employees at the Kent plant do not work on Friday afternoons. The plant closes at noon most Fridays.

The Kent plant is about two miles from UMFK on U.S. Route 1 just south of the Fort Kent business district. The plant manufactures blanket sleepers for children up to 7 years old and sleep and play outfits for infants from birth through 9 months.

It could not be determined Thursday precisely who will attend the morning meeting on the Kent situation. U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe’s office said that officials of several agencies have agreed to attend. Also involved will be state and federal elected officials and town officials.