Marshall offering free rent for start-up businesses

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    DEXTER — A Corinna businessman, who recently converted two portable classrooms into apartment duplexes, is now seeking tenants for the former Dexter middle/elementary school buildings on his property.

    So Gerry Marshall is offering free rent to new entrepreneurs, providing they meet certain conditions “If any credible business or person has a viable concept and I feel it’s a good fit for the area, we’ll give them a room in the school for three years, free of charge,” Marshall said.
    Once word got out in the community, two local businessmen announced plans to move into the building already: Melvin Wyman, who owns Mainely Crafts on Route 7; and Wyman’s son, Cory Wyman, who started Concrete Countertops of Maine in 2012.
    Marshall said that Melvin Wyman, a former Dexter fire chief and real estate broker, is setting up a woodworking shop in one of the classrooms to build novelty products for his tourism-related business.
    “We had Cory (Wyman) build a countertop for one of the bathrooms in our home,” Marshall said. “It looks just like a granite countertop for about half the price. It’s beautiful.”
    Marshall is also one of the businessmen involved in the possible revival of shoe manufacturing in Dexter (see story on page 1), and has said that space in the school is also available for a hand sewing operation to get off the ground.
    “Basically, if you have an idea and you don’t have a place to set up shop, I’m here to help,” Marshall said. “Many of these small businesses can get exposure through home shows, the Internet or advertising. At the end of three years, we’ll sit down and talk about a rent package.”
    Marshall bought the former school buildings and the 42-acre lot two years ago. There are five modular classrooms on the property and two of them are ready for occupancy. The other three duplexes will be finished in the spring.
    Marshall can be reached at 278-2205.