WATERVILLE, Maine — A Massachusetts-based technology consulting firm is opening an office here that will eventually employ 200 people.
Collaborative Consulting began looking at the city after learning about Colby College's recent efforts to partner with Waterville and the state of Maine on economic revitalization.
David Greene has made partnering with Waterville on economic development a key mission for Colby since he took over as the college president last year. Last spring, Greene began meeting regularly with a group of civic and business leaders to plot out ways to make the city more appealing to companies and visitors alike. He also cultivated another important relationship.
"I met with the governor many months ago to talk about what we were hoping to do in Waterville and the many investments we were making here," he says.
In July, for example, Colby purchased two long-vacant buildings in downtown Waterville. At their meeting, Gov. Paul LePage liked what he heard, and his office then "connected us to Collaborative Consulting and made sure that Waterville was a site that would be considered," Greene says.
The Massachusetts-based technology consulting firm was looking to expand. So Greene began lobbying the company to consider Waterville.
"The man wouldn't take no," says Bill Robichaud, Collaborative Consulting's founder and CEO. "And what I needed was for him to look me in the eye and say, 'We can do this, we are going to do this, I'm committed, I am here.' And we had a fantastic meeting a few weeks back."
Which led to Wednesday's big announcement: Collaborative Consulting would open its next big office, providing digital and data consulting services to businesses, in Waterville. Robichaud says an initial staff of 20 will eventually grow to 200 employees.
"One of Collaborative's missions is to create long-term, career advancing job opportunities in the communities we are in," he says. "To accomplish this in Waterville, we will partner with higher education institutions."
The firm will offer internships to students at Colby, Thomas College and Kennebec Valley Community College and will look to those schools for job candidates.
"Investment capital goes where it's welcomed and stays where it's appreciated," LePage says, adding that the relationships between the colleges and Collaborative will boost Maine's economy. "The one thing that we have to offer is people — that are energetic, can be trained and will be high proficient producers — because Maine has had a work ethic for hundreds of years. And while I would be the first to admit it's not as good as it was 150 years ago, it's still the best in America."
The firm will begin operating at the Hathaway Creative Center in January.