By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

   Opening its first United States office in Maine was “a natural choice because you know what you get,” according to T4G President Geoff Flood.  

The Canadian project-based IT professional services company opened an office in Saco last week and plans to double its size within five years. The company will hire 12 people by the end of year and expects to employ 200 IT professionals within five years.

Flood said Saco and the greater Portland area offer the kind of employees they need to keep the company successful.

‘To be a winner, you’ve got to get the best people to come to work,” Flood said. The Saco-Biddeford-Portland area “qualifies as the kind of place where smart people want to live.”

Flood announced the company’s expansion April 16 at the Saco Transportation Center. Gov. John Baldacci said he was happy to welcome the Toronto-based company to Maine and credited the Pine Tree Development Zone incentive program with showing the state is “open for business.”

“We know if we can create a level playing field Maine will win every time,” he said. “We have the best productive workforce in the country.”

T4G is the 281^st certified company in the Pine Tree Zone program, which reduces state taxes on the businesses for up to 10 years. Baldacci said the program has brought an anticipated 7,600 jobs with an anticipated investment of more than $810 million to the state.

Flood said the Pine Tree Zone program is “very unique and very attractive” for businesses looking to relocate here. He said he also was attracted to the Saco area because of its easy access to rail service and revitalization of mill buildings.

T4G, which has five locations across Canada, often opens offices in old buildings in areas that are being revitalized. A Halifax office is located in the only building to survive a major explosion and a Toronto office is in an area that is “coming back,” Flood said.

“We’re quite keen on locating in areas that are on a resurgence path,” he said. “I’d like to fill that building over there (at Saco Island). There’s lots of room to grow.”

T4G’s connections to Maine are not new. Flood said the company’s first customer was L.L. Bean, a relationship that continues today.

“Before we even put a shingle out in Canada we did some work for Bean 15 years ago,” he said.

Another prominent U.S. customer, Macy’s, was the company’s biggest retail customer last year. The company also is focusing on energy management, health care and government, Flood said. 

As the company hires new employees, it will try to “bring Mainers home” to jobs not previously available, Flood said.

“If they were all from Maine, I’d be thrilled,” he said.

Flood said T4G employees are on the high end of the pay scale in the IT industry. Employees generally make between $75,000 and $175,000 per year and can often telecommute. Flood said the company also prides itself on being a desirable company to work for. T4G was named to the annual Best Workplaces in Canada list for the third consecutive year.

Rep. Linda Valentino (D-Saco) said T4G’s choice to move to the city is a “very positive statement for Saco.”

“We have a very vibrant downtown community with a vibrant Main Street and I think that’s what attracts people,” she said.

T4G hired B.J. Carter to lead the U.S. operation. He will focus on energy, health, government and utilities sectors.

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.