Wisconsin lured Kestrel Aircraft away from Maine – and consequently Berlin – with a far stronger, multi-million dollar package, the Portland Press Herald is reporting.
Here’s what the newspaper says each state offered Kestrel.
WISCONSIN:
• $30 million in tax credit allocations immediately through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority
• $30 million in tax credit allocations by the end of 2012 through the Wisconsin development authority
• $30 million in 2013, if the Wisconsin development authority has it available
MAINE:
• $20 million in tax credit allocations through Coastal Enterprises Inc.
• A possible $4.75 million loan guarantee through the Finance Authority of Maine and a $3 million guarantee or letter of credit from the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority
Had the final assembly of the aircraft been done in Maine the composite body parts might have been made in Berlin using heat from the new biomass plant, Alan Klapmeier, the president of Kestrel told NHPR last year. That could have brought 150 to 200 jobs to Berlin.
But with the final assembly taking place in Wisconsin it is too far to ship parts from Berlin, Klapmeier told NHPR earlier this week.
Here’s the link to the full story: http://www.pressherald.com/news/tax-plan-trumps-maines-bid-for-kestrel-_2012-01-17.html
