Mon, 08/13/2018 - 8:45pm

Rockland has received a $830,000 federal grant from the Economic Development Administration, enough funding to move forward with plans to repair and update its aging Fish Pier.

EDA estimates that the project will allow the retention and creation of 86 jobs.

The $830,000 EDA grant is matched by a $350,000 federal grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission as well as funding from the Maine Department of Transportation and City of Rockland.

Project Summary Provided by the EDA:

This EDA investment supports the construction of components, repairs and upgrades to the City of Rockland's commercial fish pier, to ensure that it remains available as a key resource to the Mid-Coast fishing and lobstering community. The project includes repairing and resurfacing the pier, replacing fendering piles and camels, stabilizing the storage area, upgrading the electrical system and adjacent dredging to an approximate depth of eight feet at all tides. The investment will support retention and creation of jobs in the region.

Rockand Fish Pier’s recent history

In 2003, the nonprofit Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) was commissioned by Rockland to write a plan for the future of the Rockland Fish Pier. The pier was reinforced was state attention and funding between 1982 and 1987, when fish piers in Cape Porpoise (Kennebunkport), Saco, Portland, Rockland, Vinalhaven, Stonington and Eastport were constructed or reconstructed.

The Rockland Fish Pier was the last facility completed, at a cost of $1.2 million, according to the report.with the following funding mix: MDOT: $600,000; EDA: $500,000; and the City of Rockland: $150,000.

Prock Marine Company of Rockland carried out pier reconstruction at the 2.45-acre McLoon’s Wharf site during 1986-87.

The City’s first tenant at the pier, Coastal Tankers and Petroleum, had berthed their vessels there before it came under municipal ownership.

From 1988- 93, Charles Donahue was the operator of the Rockland Fish Pier; during 1993-1998, David and Charlene MacDonald ran the facility. The final operator was Water Street Management, who took over the fish pier in 1998 and concluded operations in December 2001.

Since that time, the City of Rockland has managed the fish pier.