LP donates $80,000 to arts center project

    HOULTON — The Houlton Community Arts Center Council (HCACC) has received a donation of $80,000 from the LP Foundation grant to put toward the Council’s ongoing $2.5 million capital campaign drive.
Photo courtesy of the Houlton Community Arts Center Council
DONATION — The LP Foundation recently donated $80,000 to the Houlton Community Arts Center project. Pictured here, from left, are: Dave McGillicuddy, Houlton Community Arts Center Council (HCACC) fund-raising co-chair, Louisiana-Pacific’s Houlton Plant Manager Skip Cleary and Joe Fagnant, president, HCACC.      “HCAC began working well over a year ago on applying for a new community impact grant offered by the LP Foundation.  The hard work and effort on that application was well received by their committee and we became one of the first communities to receive their grant award,” stated Joe Fagnant, president of HCACC.  “One of the factors in receiving this gift at this time in our funding campaign was the community support of the project through the bond referendum.  LP Foundation trustees wanted to see momentum on our project before making the donation. The fact that the November vote passed with an overwhelming majority met the requirements for the donation of the funds towards HCACC.” 
    Louisiana-Pacific’s Houlton Plant Manager Skip Cleary said, “We are proud to be able to partner with the people of this community in support of the arts center through this Community Impact Grant. We look forward to seeing the expanded facility completed and attending arts and community events there for years to come.”
    “Grants of this magnitude will assist us not only in raising immediate funds, but will show other granting entities that we have been successful in our efforts and that our request is compatible with their giving programs towards the arts,” said Dave McGillicuddy, co-chairperson of the fundraising committee.  “It is fantastic to have a local company that is expanding their operations in our community assist us in our expansion efforts to bring an arts facility to the Southern Aroostook area.”
    LP broke ground in September 2006, to expand its current facility in order to produce laminated strand lumber (LSL), an engineered wood product that meets home construction demands for alternative engineered products in lumber applications.  Production of LSL manufactured at Houlton is slated to begin in early 2008 and will be marketed under the brand name LP SolidStart LSL.  The facility will be one of the few producers of LSL in North America, and will employ approximately 162 people.
    The Center will allow for an expanded selection of arts-related programs and services for the community, separate band, chorus, theatre and dance space, increased storage space, and a larger stage to accommodate performances and exhibits.
    The LP Foundation Community Impact Grant program was instituted in 2006 to provide major one-time grants that make a significant impact on the quality of life in communities where LP operates.  The HCACC grant was one of the first three made in the new program. The LP Foundation is the charitable arm of Louisiana-Pacific Corporation.
    The Houlton Community Arts Center Council and fundraising committee has planned an aggressive fundraising campaign for the next seven months.  This 501C3 organization is seeking to raise $2.5 million in private funds to match the November bond referendum.  
    More information about the campaign can be received by calling Joe Fagnant at 532-6551 or going to www.houltonarts.org.