Dale Griffin has always enjoyed being in the woods. His knowledge of lumber harvesting and milling wood came in handy for building piers and a pavilion for his lobstering business. Along with his son, Brent Griffin, the two have worked according to the seasons – harvesting wood in the winter and lobster fishing in the summer.
Their sawmill, Griffin Lumber Inc. in Edmunds Township, has grown steadily over the years, but until recently lacked a dedicated facility for milling and drying wood. Thanks to a low-interest loan from the Washington County UT TIF program, administered by the Sunrise County Economic Council (SCEC), the Griffins were able to finance the purchase of a 30-by-60-foot metal building with a 12-foot lean-to. The building houses a planer capable of producing high-quality trim, tongue-and-groove flooring, and other specialty products. In addition, the loan financed the purchase of a wood boiler that burns wood scraps from the mill – a sustainable solution that also accelerates the drying process.
“Right now, we work with three or four carpenters. We don’t want to get too big,” says Dale, noting that they are open to the idea of expanding when the time is right.
The TIF program, made possible through Tax Increment Financing, supports businesses in Washington County’s unorganized territories. The Griffins worked closely with Susan Hatton, SCEC’s recently retired Grant and Loan Manager, throughout the application process. Once complete, their loan was reviewed by the SCEC Loan Committee, which makes recommendations to the Washington County Commissioners, who issue the final decision at their monthly meeting.
Dale’s wife, Shelly Griffin, shared their experience in hopes of inspiring other small business owners. She highlighted their experience with SCEC, recalling that it took a few years to decide to pursue a loan, but that the process took only a matter of months.
“It’s really nice to see small, family-owned businesses like Griffin Lumber thrive in the less populated areas of the County,” says Hatton. ” These businesses provide much-needed services and jobs for the County.”
—–
Businesses, individuals, and organizations may apply for funding through the UT TIF program, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. To learn more about SCEC grant and loan programs, please visit our Loan Programs page, or for more information, application forms and guidelines about the UT TIF program, please visit: wcut.maine.gov/ut-grants-and-loans.
SCEC can help with your application. Contact our new Grant and Loan Program Manager, Meredith Mawhar, via email (mmawhar@sunrisecounty.org) or phone at (207) 259-5116 to learn more!