By Jon Gulliver
Special to the Pioneer Times
“This is a great building, a really great building.” Those words from Governor Paul LePage as he finished up his tour Friday morning of the soon to be completed Maliseet Health Center.
Governor LePage and a few others from his administration were guests of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians (HBMI). Band officials were eager to show off the new $2,555,000 facility, which has a substantial completion date of Sept. 16. That means 98 percent of the building will be complete, there may be a few cosmetic fixes or minor construction to finish.
Currently the HBMI Health Department is operating from three separate locations with a total of 5,942 square feet. The new health center will create an inclusive service facility of more than 10,000 square feet.
“Having medical, dental, a pharmacy, and behavioral under one roof will be a big asset,” said the governor.
In addition, the building will be home to services for the young, transportation for other medical appointments and access to fitness and nutrition information. Maliseet Chief Brenda Commander is excited about the project and its expected impact on the community.
“It is so important to our community,” the chief said. “The average age of death for tribal members is only 55 and access to better health services should help.”
Chief Commander says the project also has some immediate economic health benefits.
“It has brought in revenue and jobs for people, in a time when there is a need,” Commander said.
At least five new jobs – dentist, dental hygienist, pharmacist, pharmacy technician and receptionist – are being created as a results of the expansion of services.
The contractor is Blane Casey of central Maine, but many of the subcontractors are local and some of the materials are locally purchased. The architect firm is WBRC, which has done projects on Maliseet land in the past.
Funding for the project comes from multiple sources, HBMI, USDA, Indian Health Services and Housing and Urban Development, but the biggest share, $1,425,000, comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the stimulus package passed by Congress in 2009.
