Maliseet construction to boost local economy

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
DIGGING IN — At a ground-breaking ceremony for the new eight unit apartment complex to be built under the auspices of the Maliseet Indian Housing Authority, Linda Raymond, the chairman, used a specially designed shovel to reflect native American culture. Joining her, from left in front, are: Lisa Matthews, Sue Wright, Aaron Greenlaw, Raymond, Myrna Ford, April Reynolds, Connie Cummings and Marie Polchies. In back are: Shelley Sacobie, Mike Jewell, Mike Kelley, Roger Flewelling, Cathy St. John,  Jay Hardy, Merlon Tomah, Crystal Tucker, John Flewelling and Sandy Hayes.
By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Several building projects totaling nearly $5 million in construction for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians will keep construction companies working locally. The first is an eight-unit apartment complex which got a perfect sunny weather start last Wednesday during a ground-breaking ceremony complete with a shovel designed to represent the native American culture.
    A $2 million grant out of Stimulus funding will inject capital into the economy as local companies and workers dig into the construction project.
    Aaron Greenlaw, executive director of the Maliseet Indian Housing Authority, said the two-story stick-built apartment complex will have a common entrance and each unit will have three bedrooms. Already, he said there are 45 families on the waiting list for the energy-efficient building slated for November occupancy. Eligibility, he said, will be based on HUD low-income guidelines, membership in a federally recognized tribe and other criteria.
    Greenlaw said he is “very excited about it. It’s not only going to serve eight tribal families, it’s going to boost the local economy because all the contractors hired to do work are from Bangor north. We have a number of local contractors who will work on this project.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
SHOVEL READY — Myrna Ford shows housing staff the shovel she designed with feathers to reflect the Maliseet culture and heritage for the ground-breaking ceremony last week. From left are: Connie Cummings, Aaron Greenlaw, Ford, Jay Hardy, Roger Flewelling, April Reynolds and Marie Polchies.
    “It means a lot to go from having no housing to where we are now,” said Linda Raymond, Maliseet Indian Housing Authority chairman, with a backdrop of a planned 18-spot parking lot.
    Adjacent to the new housing are 50 rental units constructed in 1992. An additional 18 units across the street were constructed in 2001. “It’s a big step up,” said Raymond who added that there have been many families living in sub-standard housing who now live in Maliseet-built units. Merlon Tomah, a Maliseet elder and councilor, said it was a big improvement for the community. “There was nothing like this when I was a young boy. It’s a big improvement for the younger generation.”
More construction ahead
    Also on tap for summer construction is another complex with six, two-bedroom units funded through a USDA subsidized loan program. Greenlaw said he expects to put that out for bid within the next three weeks. And, a new $2 million health and dental clinic will be under construction this summer as well. Greenlaw said: “It’s going to be a busy summer.”