Mainebiz

V O L . X X V N O. I I JA N UA R Y 2 1 , 2 0 1 9 12 B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S N E W S F RO M A RO U N D T H E S TAT E purchased at a foreclosure auction by Wells Fargo in October 2017. Maurices is one of eight apparel, shoe and acces- sory brands owned by the Ascena Retail Group Inc. (Nasdaq: ASNA). N O T E W O R T H Y N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N University of Maine at Presque Isle held a dedication and ribbon cutting for its $200,000 Medical Laboratory Technology Training Center, which is helping to address health care work- force needs in the state and providing its students with a space that simu- lates a hospital setting for completing intensive clinical training. Miller Drug at 210 State St. in Bangor changed its name to Northern Light Pharmacy. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the U.S. Economic Development Administration awarded $100,000 to the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township to fund a study for a potential hydrogen-powered busi- ness/internet/data center on the Passamaquoddy reservation. www.patco.com (207) 324-5574 Build with Integrity. Build with PATCO. "PATCO found answers to our unique safety requirements. And not only introduced me to qualified sub-contractors but warmly welcomed people I brought onto the project. They want to do it right the first time." Just ask Ted Burke of Burke Oil Wilton asks 'What's next?' after Barclaycard announces plans to close call center B Y M A U R E E N M I L L I K E N W I L T O N — The announcement that Barclaycard will close its call center here at the end of March, putting 227 out of work, was a surprise to the town of 4,100, but the town has been there before. Wilton has already started rallying to make sure those who will lose their jobs are taken care of, Town Manager Rhonda Irish said Jan. 9. The town has weathered many factory closings and layoffs, including Bass Shoe Co., which occupied the building Barclaycard is in, and closed in 1998 after 112 years as the town's biggest employer. The Wilton call center, one of four in the United States for the British credit card company, was a niche site, dealing with card retention, fraud and dispute resolution, as well as regular customer service issues. In July 2018, L.L. Bean moved its credit card business out of Barclaycard to Citi Retail Services, but Barclaycard offi- cials said at the time it wouldn't affect business in Wilton. Barclaycard informed the town by email Jan. 8 that it would close. Immediate attempts by Mainebiz to reach company contacts were not successful. While Barclaycard will give employees severance packages, Irish said that the town, working with the state Department of Labor, wants to make sure "all benefits, outside the range of what Barclays is doing, are available." On Jan. 8, Gov. Janet Mills directed the Department of Labor "to use all available resources to support the employ- ees, their families, and the Wilton community." Mills, who is from nearby Farmington, called the announcement "deeply disappointing news that will have a profound impact on the community, the employees and their families." Workers came from a wide area Irish said that employees at Barclaycard were not only from Wilton, in southern Franklin County, but also from other towns in the region, including Jay, Livermore Falls and Rumford. "It drew from probably a half-hour drive radius," she said. "Barclay was a great employer for the region. People really enjoyed their jobs there." Barclaycard was one of the town's two largest employ- ers. Jarden Manufacturing, which makes plastic tableware, employs more than 200, Irish said. Barclaycard opened the Wilton site in 2008 with 10 employees, largely to support a credit card co-branded with L.L. Bean. A $5 million expansion in 2015 increased capacity to 500 employees, though that number was never reached. B R I E F Rhonda Irish is town manager in Wilton. F I L E P H O T O / F R E D F I E L D

• Cover