Smiths Falls jobs prospects in doubt

There was concern in Smiths Falls, Ont.,on Monday that a major new employer's promise of jobsmay not be all it's cracked up to be.

Earlier this year, the bottled-water company Aquablue announced it was taking over the factory vacated by Hershey in 2008.

Aquablue promised 200 new jobs, beginning with 60 full-time positions in January, according to the company's website, and another 70 in March.

But now there are doubts about the company's viability.

The water tower that dominates downtown Smiths Falls still bears the Hershey logo. For people here, it's a cruel and constant reminder of the day Hershey left town and took 500 jobs with it.

Then Aquablue stepped in with its plan to take over the factory to produce bottled and carbonated water, sugar-free children's drinks and vitamin-infused drinks.

One local man who didn't want to give his name said no one he knows believed it would actually happen.

"They think it's just a phoney setup," he said. "They make a lot of promises, but nothing's coming out."

The company's president, Dan Villeneuve, said there's still no lease-to-own agreement with Hershey for the factory, and Aquablue hasn't ordered any equipment, but the company iscommitted to opening the plant by next June.

Kimberly Chatwood, who lives near the old Hershey building, said her neighbours have mixed feelings about Aquablue.

"Skeptical, because people have said they were coming, and then didn't come, but positive because they were really hoping someone would take over the building," she said.

Chatwood said she's keeping a positive view.

"The town's been through worse," she said. "It's always bounced back. We have so many positive things going on with the hospital revamping and the new arena being put up. Smiths Falls will make it. We always do."

Now,Chatwood said, if someone would just paint the water tower.