Loan will help dental lab expand
Megan Alexander — Staff WriterFAIRMONT - Jackson-Fairmont Dental Labs has continued to expand since moving to Fairmont in 1996. Soon, it will begin yet another project.
On Monday, Fairmont Economic Development Authority approved a $35,000 loan to the company to add removable prosthetics (dentures) to the list of appliances made at the lab.
"They're asking us to take the lead on the first phase of the expansion," said economic development director Mike Humpal.
The cost of the expansion is $50,000 - $30,000 to buy equipment and $20,000 to rehabilitate the building.
Owners Paul and Karen Zoch say they expect work to be complete by January. The project will involve installing new electrical services, remodeling to make room for new equipment, and training employees.
The company has 29 employees, including seasonal help, and the new department will allow them to add three more.
"I just think they're one of our small business success stories," Humpal said.
This will be the third loan the company has taken out from the authority. The first was paid off, and nearly half the second loan has been repaid. According to Humpal, Jackson-Fairmont Dental Labs has "excellent credit standing in our program."
Details on a second expansion phase planned for the near future were unavailable.
In other business Monday, the authority discussed progress on road construction at Center Creek Commons, a business development along Highway 15 where Dulcimer Medical Center will be located. Humpal predicted road work will not be complete this year and will have to wait until spring, when Dulcimer was scheduled to open.
Only two weeks worth of work remains undone, according to Humpal: curb and gutter and paving.
Negotiations are under way today since the contractor did not meet deadline.
