Perry approves aviation plant on land tribe annexed from town

By a vote of 72 to 18, Perry voters at a special town meeting on June 7 approved a request by the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point to construct the Passamaquoddy Sipayik Aviation and Aerospace facility on land annexed by the tribe from the Town of Perry. Voters approved the use of 12 acres located across from the Lobster Crate restaurant off Route 190 for the construction of a $20 million airplane parts manufacturing and maintenance facility. Perry voters acted quickly to approve the request, listed as Article 5 on the warrant.

Cliv Dore, project coordinator, said that the project will bring employment back from overseas. "I want to thank the people of Perry. We will have an exceptional future for the young people in Perry and the reservation."

According to Dore, potential investors were scheduled to meet with tribal members on June 9. Dore believes there are more than enough investors, and there are four or five different funding options. If the tribe seeks a municipal bond, the facility would be owned completely by the tribe. If the bond offering takes too long, bridge financing might be sought until the bond financing is put in place, or there could be a consortium of investors. "Whoever comes with the best deal, that's the one we will take," Dore stated. However the facility is financed, the tribe will maintain 51 percent ownership of the project in order to qualify for advantages of minority contracting and tax-exempt status.

Dore says there are numerous architectural details to be worked out, but he anticipates the shell of the 200,000-square-foot facility could be up before winter. Approximately 100 workers would be employed during the construction phase of the plant. It is estimated 300 people would be employed once construction is completed and the facility is operational.

The facility with 24 shops would repair, maintain and manufacture parts taken off aircraft. Much of that work is outsourced by major airlines. The tribe hopes to take advantage of the trend, which is expected to continue.

John Shaffer, chief executive officer of Aviation and Aerospace Management Inc. of Orlando, Fla., would serve as the chief executive officer for the Sipayik facility until trained personnel are ready to take over.

Earlier this year, the tribe sought to obtain approval of the annexed area for the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility. Perry voters turned the LNG proposal down.

Other action taken at the meeting included the approval of funding in the amount of $2,170 for the Washington Hancock Community Agency and $525 for the Eastern Agency on Aging. Funding for the third-party requests will come from the surplus account.