Rockland City, lobster capital of the world, is all geared up to turn to its favorite crustacean for an economic boost. The Rockland City Council will vote Monday, Feb. 9 on whether to guarantee a state grant on behalf of a seafood business that wants to convert its processing plant to handle lobsters and crabs.
According to the council the project, if it goes as planned, would create up to 30 jobs over the next two years. The City Council said that the final decision would taken on Monday whether to submit an application to the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development on behalf of Oak Island Seafood Inc. for a $100,000 state grant. The deadline for applying for the grant is March 6.
It is said that Oak Island would use the money to purchase equipment for its seafood processing plant in the Rockland Industrial Park. It is informed that the equipment would allow the company to switch from processing shrimp and scallops to processing lobsters and crabs. Oak Island President Ken Trenholm confirmed the councilors at their Feb. 2 meeting that the drop in the availability of scallops has forced the company to look for something new to keep people working. He said the timing is right and lobsters are plentiful.
Trenholm also added that the lobster processing plant would be a one of a kind facility in the United States. Canada currently processes 70 percent of Maine lobsters. The machinery would remove the meat from the shells and the meat would then be frozen. Rockland Community Development Director Rodney Lynch said, however, that the city attorney is working on an agreement with the company that would allow the city to recoup the money from the company if the five added worker requirement were not met.
