Brims Ness gets boost from Millinocket council

MILLINOCKET – John Merrill has moments when he feels success is a million miles away and moments when the president of Brims Ness Corp. feels it’s just at arm’s reach.

“For some time now, we have been 90 days away from getting product in the field,” Merrill said Friday.

The manufacturer of sensor and filtration technology for drinking water will try to take advantage of a three-month gift the Town Council gave him last week.

Councilors voted unanimously to give Merrill a break from having to make monthly payments on its $50,000 town loan.

Merrill will have a three-month reprieve from loan payments, which are about $1,000 per month. Merrill is grateful for the council’s action.

“I am glad they did it,” Merrill said. “It just shows that the town is supportive of my business, which of course is a good thing.”

Councilors approved the action with mixed feelings. They wished the company was more successful, but realized that the success wasn’t going to come without their help.

“It’s clear that they need a hand,” Councilor Jimmy Busque said. “It’s something that we could do … What else could we do?”

Brims Ness moved in April 2004 from a technology incubator in South Portland to the former engineering and research building at Great Northern and brought with it a great deal of promise.

Merrill has said he hoped to create about 115 new jobs over the next 12 months when the company was certified a Pine Tree Zone business in October.

Brims Ness has made progress. It is just about ready to market its own drinking water filtration system, but still needs about $1.5 million in startup funds, Merrill said.

“We’re in process of putting together a big funding package. It’s coming together, but it’s taking a long time,” Merrill said. “I have a company in Massachusetts that has been formed to distribute Brims Ness product, and there are customers waiting.

“I think the issue here is getting the first few customers and getting testing under way,” he added.

Pine Tree Zones are established in communities that have below-average wages or have lost more than 5 percent of its population or work force over the last three years.

Brims Ness was Merrill has applied for grants and several small-business loans through state and federal agencies.