PITTSFIELD – Town councilors Tuesday night came up with a list of ideas that, if funded, could be submitted for a state economic stimulus package.

The state package could provide an economic boost of $4 million to Maine communities. Each approved project could receive between $200,000 and $400,000 in funding. Town Manager Kathryn Ruth explained that the package is only in its concept stage.

Ruth said state officials would be looking for ready-to-go packages that could jump-start the local economy.

Some of the projects Ruth is looking at include:

. Expanding the infrastructure of the Pittsfield Industrial Park.

. Constructing a speculation building on Lot 68 of the PIP, across from Land Air Express.

. Revamping the Pittsfield Woolen Mill on Central Street to accommodate several new start-up businesses or incubator businesses.

. Revamping the Waverly Mill for new businesses or housing.

. Establishing a second Family Doctors office.

. Purchasing and marketing the foreclosed restaurant on Main Street.

Ruth said the list will be completed today and forwarded to the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments, which is coordinating the project in central Maine. Each of the state’s six economic development districts were asked to coordinate local responses for the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. Emphasis will be on projects that put money into the economy in ways that create jobs and new private investments within six months.

In other business, Ruth updated councilors on the progress of Global Contact Services, a Virginia-based telecommunications firm, that will be locating a call center in Somerset Plaza. The company is in town, Ruth said, conducting second interviews and renovating the former ICT space. They expect to start with a core group of about 30 employees by March 5, Ruth said. “Applications are still pouring in and we are encouraging those that are able, to apply on-line. We also still have applications here at the town office.”

The company is expected to ramp up to two shifts with more than 200 employees by next year.

Ruth told the councilors the pending closure of San Antonio Shoe and the loss of 147 jobs has prompted the creation of a state and regional task force and the activation of the Maine Department of Labor rapid response team. The team will not go into action until closer to the actual layoff date, Ruth said, which is between mid-April and August.

Ruth said a community transition team also will pull local resources together, such as Kennebec Valley Community Action program and the community colleges, and set up a local job fair that will feature companies looking to hire.

She said the state will also likely apply for a federal trade adjustment grant but they are very difficult to acquire.

In other business, the council:

. Accepted back taxes on two foreclosed properties.

. Set a public hearing for Feb. 19 on the purchase and financing of a new Water Department truck.

. Set a public hearing for Feb. 19 to rename the address, not the street, for Cianbro Corp. from Easy Street to Cianbro Square to assist the company with delivery issues.

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