BRUNSWICK

Kennebec River Biosciences is moving to Brunswick Landing — and it wants the town’s help.

The full-service aquatic animal health lab is asking the Brunswick Town Council to apply for a $400,000 grant that will help fund a $850,000 upgrade at its new location. The business is anticipating the creation of more than a dozen new jobs.

During its meeting Tuesday, the council will consider submitting a letter of intent to the state on behalf of Kennebec River Biosciences to support a Community Development Block Grant to fund the relocation and production expansion.

Currently located in Richmond, KRB performs testing on fish, shellfish and crustaceans, providing services to farms, businesses, government agencies and scientific research institutions involved with aquatic species. It also provides vaccines, veterinary consultation, and contract research to solve aquatic animal health problems or to add value to an aquatic firm’s harvest.

The company started in 1996 with two employees, but has grown to its current workforce of 15 and is the largest commercial lab of its kind in the Americas.

“In order to continue growth, meet demand, increase efficiencies and enhance environmentally friendly production, Kennebec River Biosciences needs to upgrade its production capacity through an integrated manufacturing investment,” Economic Development Director Linda Smith wrote in a memo to the council. “The upgraded equipment purchases and installation costs and leasehold improvements to Building 201 at 237 Neptune Drive are estimated to be $850,000 in total. KRB is contributing $450,000 (52 percent) in equity and private financing and $400,000 (48 percent) is being requested from the CDBG Economic Development

Grant Program.”

The resulting production increase will result in the creation of 14 new full-time jobs — including inventory, shipping, technical, sales and supervisory positions.

Smith adds that with the relocation, KRB anticipates capacity to respond to increased product demand.

“Like most growing businesses, they are cash flow poor and are looking to mitigate the costs of this next necessary expansion,” she wrote.

Renovations will add floor space and a modern lab and biotech manufacturing facility. The building, built in 1953, formerly served as the Navy mess hall.

If the council agrees to submit the letter of intent, the town should learn in March or April if it will be invited to submit an application for the grant. The first jobs are to be available in January 2019, according to the proposed letter of intent. The 2018 CDBG Program funds will not be available before July 1.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers at Town Hall.