Helping break ground on Phase II of the new Auburn Industrial Park are (l. to r.) Governor Lepage’s Account Executive for the Maine Dept. of Economic and Community Development Brian Doyle; Deputy Commissioner for the Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection John Silvestri; City of Auburn Mayor Jonathan P. LaBonte; President of the Auburn Business Development Corporation Darcie Beaudin; State Rep. of Senator Susan M. Collins Carlene Tremblay; and District Rep. of Congressman Michael H. Michaud Andrea Quaid.

Federal officials, city representatives, and members of the public recently helped celebrate the official groundbreaking of Phase II of the Auburn Industrial Park.

A joint venture between the City of Auburn and the Auburn Business Development Corporation (ABDC), the new eight-lot subdivision will consist of approximately 100 acres of land adjacent to the Auburn-Lewiston Airport. Officials estimate the park could produce nearly $1.2 million annually in new property taxes, capture up to $80 million in private investment, and create over 200 jobs over the next 10 to 15 years for the City of Auburn.

Phase II of the project involves the construction of approximately 3,100 linear feet of industrial roadway to coincide with public water and sewer line instillation, natural gas line extension, and the addition of three-phase electrical power. Once completed, the subdivision will be large enough to accommodate approximately 1.3 million square feet of new construction.

Developers and city officials expressed optimism towards the value of the park due to its strategic location in close proximity to various modes of transportation, including the Maine Turnpike, Auburn-Lewiston Airport, rail services provided by the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad, and its adjacency to the Maine Intermodal Transportation Facility. Nearly 60 percent of the state’s population and labor force can be found within a 60-mile radius of the Lewiston-Auburn area.

“The success of this project reflects an unprecedented spirit of collaboration and enterprise between Auburn’s business community, Auburn’s City Government, and a broad coalition of public and private sector partners that brought noteworthy value to the multi-year development effort,” said Roland Miller, Director of Economic Development for the City of Auburn. “This spirit of collaboration keeps Auburn and Lewiston on the leading edge of Maine’s 21st century economy.”

In addition to the logistical benefits, economic incentives such as the Pine Tree Development Zone and the industrial park’s location within Foreign-Trade Zone #263 are available for businesses.

Officials hinted at early interest regarding lot particulars within the park. “We understand the importance of having shovel ready sites equipped for development today,” said Darcie Beaudin, President of the Auburn Business Development Corporation. “Couple that with the logistical benefits due to the park’s location, and we expect this groundbreaking to be just the first of many new and exciting developments on this property.”

With the benefit of assistance from the Maine Congressional delegation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the infrastructure and roadway improvements are expected to be completed by July of 2014.