Skowhegan
Savings and Somerset Economic
Development Corporation Tour Progress
at Skowhegan Grist Mill Project
SKOWHEGAN, Maine - John Witherspoon,
president and CEO of Skowhegan Savings, and Jim
Batey, Director at the Somerset County Economic
Development Corporation (SEDC), met with community
organizer Amber Lambke to tour renovations in progress
on the county jail building she is turning into
a grist mill for flour production in downtown Skowhegan.
She
intends the finished building to not only house
a grist mill that will process 250 tons of bread
wheat, oats, spelt and rye, but also provide retail
space for local artisans, a commercial kitchen and
a café with outdoor seating. The mill itself will
likely create new jobs, but with the other enterprises
she hopes to attract, additional positions will
be created as well.
Lambke and her business partner, Michael Scholz,
a baker and wheat grower from Albion, are hoping
to revitalize grain growing in the region and be
a milling resource for growers and bakers throughout
New England. Lambke is one of the founders of the
Kneading Conference, an annual event begun in 2007
which is growing in popularity and one that will
be hosted in Skowhegan on July 29 and 30 in 2010.
The renovations have a long way to go, but Lambke's
plan is progressing and she and Scholz are working
with local contractors and architects to make the
needed changes to go from jail cells to functional
mill and retail space. It is a project that has
attracted a lot of attention for its scope and possibility
to bring more economic activity to the town.
"This project is an important part of the revitalization
of Skowhegan's downtown," commented Witherspoon.
"We are happy to see this innovative and ambitious
project that is already creating jobs for local
contractors and will be an engine for economic activity
in town and throughout our region."
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Photo Caption: (Left to right) Jim
Batey, Amber Lambke and John Witherspoon outside
the old jail and future grist mill in downtown Skowhegan.
Skowhegan Savings, founded in 1869, is an independent
mutual savings bank dedicated to strengthening the Maine
families, businesses and communities it serves. Named as
one of Maine's Best Places to Work in 2009, Skowhegan Savings'
team of friendly, committed employees takes pride in delivering
personalized, competitive banking services with integrity
and putting the needs of their customers first. An innovative
and progressive approach to banking ensures their customers
enjoy a banking experience that is quick, easy and convenient.
Skowhegan Savings' nine Maine branches include two locations
in Skowhegan, as well as locations in Belgrade, Bingham,
Dexter, Fairfield, Madison, Norridgewock, and Pittsfield.
For more information, visit www.skowsavings.com or contact Customer Service
at 800.303.9511
