PRESQUE ISLE – Lowe’s officials have announced the opening date of Oct. 17 for its home improvement center, located on Maysville Street.

“We will open the doors to the public at our newest location in Presque Isle on Oct. 17, with grand-opening festivities scheduled for Oct. 19,” said Karen Cobb, company spokesperson. Unlike other businesses, there will be no ribbon-cutting ceremony for this store.  “We hold a ‘board-cutting’ rather than a ribbon-cutting ceremony,” laughed Cobb, noting a board cutting is more in line with the store’s theme of home improvement.

The superstore features 102,000 square feet of retail sales space, with an adjacent garden center. “We’ll be stocking 32,000 different items to help customers build, improve and beautify their homes,” said Cobb, adding that “another half million products can be special ordered for customers.”

A store of this size requires a belief in community growth in a particular area, as well as a substantial company investment.

“A store of this size represents an average investment for the company of $12 million and creates up to 120 new jobs. We’re in the midst of the largest expansion in company history. We’re constantly evaluating sites for new stores, literally reviewing hundreds of factors that we take into consideration,” said Cobb.

In 2004, Lowe’s opened 140 new stores. In 2005, an additional 150 branches were added across the country. Cobb said plans for this year include opening 155 new stores during the fiscal year, with Presque Isle’s store one of them.

“Next year we’re planning to open another 150 to 160 stores, including plans to open a store in Canada,” said Cobb. “We average opening one new store every three days.”

She indicated the decision to locate in Presque Isle was due partly to home ownership in the area, population, access to major roadways, easy access in and out of the parking lot, as well as growth in the community.

“Lowe’s does extensive research before deciding on any commitment,” she said. “We decided to add a store in Presque Isle because we believe there’s opportunity to serve homeowners in the area and plenty of growth potential in the community.”

Presque Isle’s branch will be the sixth store in Maine. Other branches can be found in: Portland, Biddeford, Auburn, Brunswick and Windham. With fiscal year 2005 sales of $43.2 million, Lowe’s Company Inc. serves approximately 12 million customers a week at more than 1,275 home improvement stores in 49 states. “Based in Mooresville, N.C., the 60-year-old company is the second-largest improvement retailer in the world.

Officials at the local Career Center office – conveniently located on Maysville Street not far from the new store – have been quite busy in recent weeks as word spreads that the store will be opening soon and is in the process of hiring staff.

“We’ve been hiring for Lowe’s at the center since the beginning of June. It’s been going very well, going very smoothly,” said Torry Eaton, with the Aroostook County Action Program, serving as director of Career Center Services. Eaton indicated interviews are being held daily and run all day long.  “Right now, a lot of people are in training. Orientation and new employee training is going on. Feedback’s been very positive – from Lowe’s people, to those hired and Career Center staff. It’s been a very positive experience all around,” said Eaton.

Rodney Wohlford, the new store’s manager, has been on hand for the hiring process and store setup.  “Hiring’s been going great. We’ve had 1,600 applicants. Of our work force – of all the folks working at the store, of the approximately 120 staff members, all but five or six are from Aroostook County, including the senior manager,” said Wohlford. “Bob Canney, or human relations director, is from right here in the area.”  Although hiring began in June, Wohlford said it was only recently efforts hit full gear.  “We didn’t hit full gear until July,” said Wohlford, praising County workers by adding, “You have a great work force up here.”  Cobb added of the 120 positions, roughly 80 percent are full-time jobs.

When it comes to home improvements, Lowe’s prides itself in carrying a wide selection of merchandise.  “We’re pleased to have the opportunity to serve people with products they need. We pride ourselves on having a store that’s convenient and provides homeowners with a pleasant shopping environment, with products all under one roof – for both private citizens and contractors,” said Cobb. “We’re happy to be your newest neighbor and look forward to serving our new customers.”

Wohlford looks forward to meeting and serving customers once the store is open.  “We’re excited and looking forward to the store opening. We already have the sign lit up. It looks neat at night,” said Wohlford.

The store will be open seven days a week. Store hours haven’t been released yet, nor has the store’s phone number. Crews are busily putting finishing touches on the outside, paving the lot and doing landscaping, while workers busily stock shelves inside, preparing for opening day.