Madawaska approves plan to help business buy perfume packaging equipment

MADAWASKA – About 15 residents took 15 minutes to approve a proposal to assist a local industrialist Tuesday night.

They gave the nod to the town’s application for a business grant and also approved the town’s final payment on a road reconstruction project.

The grant application to assist Evergreen Manufacturing Group LLC in purchasing equipment through the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development will be submitted for $28,000.

Evergreen Manufacturing Group LLC wants to purchase a $70,000 machine to allow more bottled perfume to be packaged at its Route 1 plant.

It is expected that the new machine will create seven new jobs at the Madawaska plant.

“There was no opposition for the proposal, either proposal,” Fred Ventresco, Madawaska town manager, said Wednesday. “It’s a business assistance grant.”

Evergreen Manufacturing has been operating for several years in Madawaska. The perfume bottling side of the industry is the continuance of the former industry that went bankrupt.

Jeff Albert, who also operates a trucking company, bought the assets and has made the business flourish.

The second item facing voters was the raising of $140,000 for the last payment on the loan for the Eleventh Avenue reconstruction.

Action on the final payment was overlooked when the town had its annual town meeting in June.