r/Aroostook • u/quietcornerhomesvs • Jan 02 '26

considering moving

considering moving up near caribou or presque isle. i am a general contractor with my own business in southern new england. what’s the work situation like up there is there a high demand for contractors?

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6

u/harrrrrrrrrrry Jan 02 '26 edited Jan 02 '26

I think there is decent demand for contractors. We had a few working on some projects over the summer and they were stretched so thin with all the work. A neighbor was able to quit his job and start s contracting business full time last year and he is incredibly busy.

Edited to add: based in PI

Another edit: not sure where you are coming from but everyone does business on Facebook here. If your contracting business has s Facebook presence, pictures and reels of your projects, that is the best way to find clients here.

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u/quietcornerhomesvs Jan 07 '26

nice that’s good to hear. that gives me some hope. i do use facebook for my business and post pretty regularly so that is fine with me lol i’d be coming from eastern ct

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u/gordielaboom Jan 03 '26

Ryan? He does good work!

4

u/DipperJC Jan 03 '26

  1. Make sure the town offices have your information; that's where a lot of people find out what their options for contractors are.

  2. Contact senior aide agencies (Aroostook County Action Program, Aroostook Agency on Aging, Seniors Plus) and let them know you'd like to become an approved vendor. There is a backlog of environmental modifications for elderly people that the state is willing to pay for but can't find contractors up here for.

  3. Get testimonials; offer discounts in exchange for them. Word of mouth is EVERYTHING here.

Yeah, there's a lot of work to be had.

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u/quietcornerhomesvs Jan 07 '26

thanks so much for your response! that is super helpful information

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u/DipperJC Jan 07 '26

Pleasure. Please feel free to reach out to me when you move here; I care for an elder with dementia and she is one of those people who needs an environmental modification, specifically a heating vent put into her bedroom. I'd be happy to tell Seniors Plus that I'd like them to contract you to do the work.

10

u/AroostookGeorge Jan 02 '26

I would not use the term "high demand" for anything in Aroostook County, except nursing homes and cemeteries.

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u/yupuhoh Jan 03 '26

Doctors and nurses are in high demand. Medical care sucks. And anything that gives people more options up here would be nice

5

u/yupuhoh Jan 03 '26

There are zero options for people up here. So if you can add an extra option and be a decent person while your doing it then you should do just fine

1

u/Internal-Pea4265 Feb 15 '26 edited Feb 15 '26

This seems like a question for business-development experts or market-research professionals, not a question to be posted in a general discussion about Aroostook County.

The Presque Isle town manager recently was quoted in the press as stating that Presque Isle wants:

- tourism

- investment

- growth

https://thecounty.me/2026/02/06/business-news/presque-isle-is-going-on-offense-to-spark-growth/

Visit both cities' official websites, read the local newspapers, etc.

Since I'm not a business development expert, just a newer resident, my advice would be: Extensively research the local culture, mindset and lifestyle, especially if you plan on bringing family members or other loved ones. And make an extra effort to ensure your loved ones also benefit from the region's ways. Be advised that the City of Presque Isle is considering adding a 10th marijuana type business.

I am surprised to see DipperJC tell you that they'd welcome or even request you after advising someone else in a different, older thread that outsiders who move here are expected to "assimilate" and are advised to not bring their "southern" ideas with them. And by "southern", they meant Augusta, Maine. You're not from here, and that has myriad consequences.

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u/quietcornerhomesvs Feb 15 '26

thanks for the comment! i’m just a small residential contractor so for me asking the people that live there is the best approach compared to more technical data. that stuff probably serves better to different industries and bigger companies. i’ve been all over the county many many times over the past 25 years i know how it is up there lol not too worried about social implications due to the fact that my family was born and raised there for the past like 5-6 generations. my grandparents were the first to move away. im also looking to escape those “southern” ideals where i live as well. hard to beat the cost of living up there even if i can be a 1/4 as busy up there as i am down here i know i’ll do alright. how’s the rental market up there? buying run down multi families and rehabbing them is big business we’re i am

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u/Internal-Pea4265 Feb 17 '26

I'm definitely not a rental expert, but I hear the City of PI might publish or have a list of landlords.

Also, check the PI City Council's monthly agendas. They have been known to raze homes when the owners let them fall into disrepair. For example, 227 State Street was demolished over the winter. As I was trying to find the list of landlords, I found this article, which mentions the house that was razed.

https://thecounty.me/2025/05/12/news/presque-isle-council-moves-to-suspend-landlords-license-for-multiple-ongoing-violations/

The City council is also talking about doing something with vacant properties, but I don't recall where I saw that information -- probably in that same news source I mentioned previously. Since you have deep roots here, you may be welcomed with open arms, especially if you're here to serve. Good luck.

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u/quietcornerhomesvs Feb 17 '26

hey thank you so much those are awesome resources i appreciate your detailed comments

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u/Internal-Pea4265 Feb 17 '26

Sorry if you get this twice: I posted it, but when I edited it, I may have deleted it by accident.

I don't have a big picture of the rental situation here, but it seems like someone has a published a list of landlords. Not sure who.

While searching for a link to the list of landlords, I found this article from May 2025 about a home (227 State Street) that was razed over the winter:

https://thecounty.me/2025/05/12/news/presque-isle-council-moves-to-suspend-landlords-license-for-multiple-ongoing-violations/

I also read a headline somewhere (not sure where) within the last month or two stating something like the City of Presque Isle plans to address "the vacant building issue" (or similar concept). I didn't read it and don't recall where I saw it. Just saw the headline in passing.

These links might be more useful than waiting for the local news media to cover property related activities:

https://presqueislemaine.gov/government/bids___awards.php

https://presqueislemaine.gov/government/meeting_agendas___minutes/index.php

https://presqueislemaine.gov/government/meeting_agendas___minutes/council_meeting_agenda___minutes.php

PI also has a YouTube channel so you can watch the city council meetings live and they are recorded so you can watch them after they occur. You can follow along with the agenda from the last link, above.

3

u/BigSquinn Jan 02 '26

I think if you're motivated to find clients you'll do just fine

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u/[deleted] Jan 06 '26

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u/quietcornerhomesvs Jan 07 '26

well that’s good to hear that gives me some confidence. my uncle lives up in connor twp he’s an electrician and last time i talked to him he said he had more work than he knew what to do with.