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That’s an awful lot of money. Do the town officials actually believe that this expenditure is going to make people want to live in Brewer? I don’t see it. And given the way that businesses have evacuated from Brewer over the past 15 years, I wouldn’t hold out much hope that some tourist will be inspired, after taking in a Shriner’s Circus performance at the Cross Center, to relocate his manufacturing plant to that town. We’ll take your money though.
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I don’t think you are seeing the whole picture. This is also a major conference center which can and will be used for events connected to Brewer and the region. Marketing communication will go out via multi-media all over New England, Canada, and well beyond. A VIP box will be avaliable for the city to use for potential business owners looking to re-located here. It is about a major marketing tool to help attact business to the city and to the region. This is a unique, essentially once in a lifetime chance to get in on something big, new, and far-reaching from the outset – a major set of tools, really – to promote the city economically. So I think this is where the green light on this comes from, out of the recognition that it is a very unique and rare opportunity which has emerged and there are times when you have to be willing to grab an opportunity when it comes along. The funds are current funds that have built up and are available for economic development. There will be no new taxation or fees required for this. The money is already there. While many of us in the city do take some pause given the amount of expenditure, having listened to all that has been said, I am willing as a resident to take this chance because it is indeed a unique opportunity to afford the economic development team a powerful set of tools to market the city in a new and dynamic way. Let’s take the opportunity. (PS: While the city has lost some business in recent years, there have also been many gains over the long run with NEW businesses from EMMC facilities to large stores to Cianbro to new banks like Machias Savings- about 400 businesses are now in the city, and we have also had beautiful new neighborhood development in the last 20 or so years. Brewer has expanded and has been cited as a state leader in economic development. It is a great small city. This is a unique opportunity. If you have further concerns, I would urge you to draft a letter with your questions and submit it to Darcy at the Economic Development Office, the City Manager, and the Council members.)
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total waste there are not going to be any more events at the new arena than have been in the past, come on they hired the same director that they have now who hasn’t made any money for Bangor Brewer just wasted a ton of money that could be used for the better
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It is the same facility director, but this is a very new and much improved facility with a contracted company running it, for whom the director is now working, and with advanced multi-media marketing in place throughout the extended region and well beyond.
Also, the Director, Mike Dyer, currently does a very good job running the Bangor Auditorium and Civic Center given the limited tools and funding currently associated with it. Where are you getting your information? From actual facts, or just conjecture and personal opinion? Do you have any actual numbers to back your claims?
I think you are being rather close-minded here. It seems there is a lot about the facility, its marketing tools, its broader management, and the use plans that you do not know. Before passing all judgement, you first might want to become more informed. You can easily contact the Brewer and Bangor offices of economic development with your concerns and questions.-
you don’t know the the plans either what makes you think is going to be any better than than what it was other than a new facility.. question ? you have a company you want to introduce a new product, now are you going to have a convention in little old bangor or take your promotion where it will work
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The director in this case is not responsible for bringing acts to the Cross. And Dwyer will be working in the private sector where expectations are much greater for a successful showing of the new arena.
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I am still giving odds that it will never be worth what they spent on the arena now getting other towns to advertise with it is good salesmanship to a white elephant
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What a complete load. Businesses expand and relocate because code, human resources, and taxes are favorable to the corporate goals – not because the Economic Development Officer has her own personal slush fund. Brewer has a mill rate much higher than many small and local pro-business towns. Do you honestly think D’arcy’s skybox is going to lower the mill rate?
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New or expanded businesses in Brewer
Brewer Federal Credit Union (new branch)
Bangor Federal Credit Union
Lowe’s
WalMart
EMHS
Cancer Care of Maine (relocation from Bangor)
Redevelopment of the old Pepsi Bottling Plant
Machias Savings Bank
Walgreen’s
Redevelopment of the old Eastern Fine Paper mill
Super Cuts
do I need to go on?-
Nope – just list the businesses that closed.
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D’arcy is just excited about attending all the catered shows in Brewer’s new skybox that will be paid for by taxpayers. How come she didn’t mention the skybox? Who is going to manage tickets for every event? How much will the catering bill be for each event? Will taxpayers foot the bill for alcohol too? Given the crushing tax burden in Brewer, residents should be outraged over this use of funds!
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That is a pretty cynical and presumptive attitude, and if you have this concern you should voice it to Darcy, to the City Manager, and to the City Council. Just ask what the plan is for the skybox along with your other questions here too. I am sure they would have happy to answer them as they are legitimate questions. But to assume Darcy wants to do this just to be able to watch free shows is pretty unfair. I’m sure that as a person who has given her life to economic development, and pretty successfully in Brewer, that she has a lot more in mind than that. C’mon.
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And your relationship to Darcy is………..More of us need to be at these meetings to stop this crap.
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Really sky box don’t worry it wont be used any more than now, the cost of high school basket ball just got more expensive
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When was the last time Ringling Brothers circus came to town Kat? make it even easier for you, when was the last time Ringling Brothers circus came to Maine?
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ever wonder why they don’t, the circus is not the money maker that it use to be no ticket sales no circus
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And your source for you comments would be?
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Great use of scarce funds.
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So… for $65,000 a year, the city of Brewer gets to advertise the city of Brewer at a Bangor arena? Who exactly would be swayed by any amount of advertising at an arena to do any kind of business or event planning at another city with a relatively inferior infrastructure? I’m trying to imagine anyone whatsoever seeing any kind of ad for Brewer and having a light bulb go off over their head and then saying “hmmm, Brewer – sounds good, I’m going to do some business there”. And I have nothing against Brewer, just the notion that this will result in anything other than spending money.
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total waste of money for $65,000 I’ll stand out in the crowd with signs ( when there will be a crowd their estimate with out a track record of 300,000 means they are going to have to average 821 people a day ( Not going to happen) casino is going down in revenue Bangors WHITE ELEPHANT and now Brewer owns the tail
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Hollywood Casino is about to have the best year yet.
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Correct jd. some peeps are not paying attention to progress.
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pack of lies ask any player on action of hollywood
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Try checking the Maine Gaming Board financial reports for Hollywood Casino and check both the slot and table games and you will see the will finish the year well ahead.
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Thanks for the donation.
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lol
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Congrats Brewer! Welcome aboard. You are part of the Bangor area and we are all… one community.
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more welcome aboard to the new sinking ship Brewer
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Actually, Brewer has GROWN a great deal in recent years in terms of business and residentially, and we have been cited as one of top cities in the state for economic development. You seem rather uninformed.
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Don’t bother….MtKat just likes to complain
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not complaining I am for brewer progress it’s just when they degress is suprizing The new arena will be lucky to increase attendeance by 10 % which wont pay the bills even if they sucker other towns to advertise it will still be a loser IMO
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The 2000 census reports Brewer with a population of 8,987; the 2010 census reports population at 9,482. Less than 500 people over 10 years doesn’t really translate into a great deal of residential growth.
As for business growth, please cite actual proof – including number of businesses opened and number of businesses closed in those “recent years.” Please also separate that growth into tax paying and tax exempt businesses. It seems to me that net growth for business in Brewer may be closer to zero than it is to “a great deal” – I would be happy to be proven wrong.
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I think its only fair that Brewer contributes something to operating the new arena considering Brewer residents will benefit from the new facility — many Brewer residents live closer to the arena than many Bangor residents. (I actually think the two communities should merge, but that is another topic)
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My word people! A great number of you claim a doomsday scenario of tax increases due to the new Arena. Then comes along a plan which will help reduce the chances of said scenario and what do you do? You complain. People never cease to cause me to wonder.
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Good thing they didn’t use that money to fix streets or buy winter salt. This should help a few suits avoid a real job for a while longer anyway. You know who they are. They are the ones that when they don’t show up for work, no one notices.
Comments for: Brewer councilors approve spending $455,000 for Cross Insurance Center marketing deal
BREWER, Maine — City leaders approved a seven-year, $455,000 marketing agreement with Bangor’s Cross Insurance Center on Tuesday after hearing only support from residents and business owners. Even so, the vote was not unanimous. Councilor Arthur “Archie” Verow said the pricetag for the marketing deal with… Read More
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