[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 4148]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING POLAND SPRINGS

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, in these challenging economic times, it 
is a pleasure to recognize a business that is growing and creating new 
jobs as it demonstrates environmental stewardship and community 
citizenship. The Poland Spring Water Company of Maine is such a 
business.
  The pure, natural spring water found in Maine's Western Mountains has 
been prized by residents and travelers since the earliest days of our 
Nation. In 1845, Hiram Ricker began bottling this water and a company 
was born. By 1904, the water had gained international praise earning 
medals of excellence at the Columbian Exposition and the World's Fair. 
The Ricker Inn, which opened a decade later, hosted such illustrious 
guests as Presidents Cleveland and Taft.
  Today, Poland Spring is one of the best-selling bottled spring water 
brands in North America. Its bottling plants in three Maine communities 
provide some 800 good-paying, skilled jobs. Its annual payroll of $40 
million and $65 million in purchases of goods and services from other 
Maine companies make it a mainstay of our State's rural economy. Its 
generous support for schools, fire and rescue, conservation, and many 
other causes strengthen our communities.
  Three years ago, Poland Spring opened its newest plant in the small 
town of Kingfield with 40 workers. This year, employment stands at 70 
and the Kingfield operation was recently named ``The Best Plant in 
North America'' by Poland Springs' parent company, Nestle Waters. That 
is an outstanding record of growth and accomplishment in such a short 
time, but it doesn't surprise me to see a Maine facility achieve this 
distinction.
  Poland Spring does not just bottle water--it is a diligent guardian 
of Maine's precious groundwater resources. The company's extensive 
monitoring efforts to protect water quality and the local watershed set 
a standard for the industry worldwide. From its ultra-light plastic 
bottle and energy-efficient building design to its operation of the 
largest biodiesel trucking fleet in Maine, Poland Spring's commitment 
to the environment is seen at every step of the process.
  I congratulate the Poland Spring Water Company for more than 160 
years of contributions to the State of Maine and the Kingfield facility 
for its recognition as the best in North America.

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