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Maine State Director Virginia Manuel
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In This
Issue:
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USDA Rural Development Funds Digital
Mammography Machine
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Rural TiMEs
November 2010
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 Greetings!
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USDA Rural Development
Welcomes Under Secretary Dallas Tonsager to Maine to Tour Local
Business
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Standing in front of the solar panels on Meadowmere
Hotel are the owners, daughter-in-law Allyson Cavaretta, Under Secretary
Dallas Tonsager, Owner Phillip Cavaretta, and State Director
Virginia Manuel
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During a recent visit to Maine, USDA Rural Development
Under Secretary Dallas Tonsager visited a Rural Energy for America
Program (REAP) project in Ogunquit to learn about its recent
installation of a renewable energy system.
The Meadowmere Hotel in Ogunquit utilized a USDA Rural
Development
REAP Grant of
$49,625 to
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Under Secretary Dallas Tonsager examines part of the
solar thermal hot water system with Phillip Cavaretta, the owner of
the Meadowmere Hotel.
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install a state-of-the-art commercial solar thermal
hot water system to preheat a significant portion of the domestic hot
water for the motel.
The approximate 30% savings the Meadowmere Hotel will recoup in
energy costs will allow the hotel to continue to sustain its business
and 53 jobs. "This project is a perfect example of how
Rural Development is working to help keep the Maine economy on
track" said USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia
Manuel, as she and Under Secretary Tonsager visited the hotel and
viewed the solar thermal system. "The solar thermal hot
water system is a great source of clean renewable energy, and USDA
Rural Development is dedicated to supporting the rural Maine economy
by funding green projects like this one."
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USDA Rural Development
Business and Cooperative Programs Administrator Judy Canales Visits
the Ocean Classroom Foundation
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From Left to Right: Camden National Bank Senior Vice
President Jack Williams; Ocean Classroom Foundation recent
Discovery High School Student and Recipient of the Alix Thorne Most
Outstanding Shipmate Award Charlie Campbell; USDA Rural Development
Business and Cooperative Programs Administrator Judy Canales; USDA
Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel; and Ocean
Classroom Foundation Founder and President Alix Thorne
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As a part of her visit to Maine, USDA Rural
Development Administrator for Business and Cooperative Programs Judy
Canales visited the Ocean Classroom Foundation, in Boothbay Harbor.
This unique non-profit organization teaches its students, mostly
young adults, life skills through learning how to sail and navigate
the open sea.
The organization had tried to obtain financing several times, but it
was the partnership between community bank Camden National and USDA
Rural Development that finally came through for them, providing them
a Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan from USDA Rural Development
and Camden National Bank in the amount of $2.2 million through the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
One Ocean Classroom student, 18 year-old Charlie Campbell,
shared his life-changing experience with Administrator Canales,
"My favorite part of sailing is when you can no longer see dry
land.. when you can feel the wind in your face out at sea. The
experience has transformed me and helped me realize what is
possible," he said.
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Senator Susan M. Collins Joins
in Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Swan's Island Library
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From Left to Right with Shovels: Swan's Island
Educational Society President of Board of Directors Ken Dutille;
United States Senator Susan M. Collins; Swan's Island resident
Ashley Tapley; USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia
Manuel; and resident Morgan Matthews
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It isn't every day you celebrate a groundbreaking on
an island 6 miles off the Maine coast- but that is just what USDA
Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel, United States
Senator Susan M. Collins and other officials, did on August 20 in
order to mark the beginning of construction on the new Swan's Island
Library. This was a momentous occasion for the Library's
Director Candis Joyce and Board of Trustees President Ken Dutille, as
well as the estimated 350 year-round residents of the island community.
The former library, historical museum and landmark,
the Old Atlantic Schoolhouse, built in 1903, was struck by lightning
and tragically burned to the ground in July of 2008. The
ceremony was witnessed by a gathering of nearly 200 people -
residents and tourists alike - who turned out under sunny skies to
show their support for this important community project.
The new 3,500 sq ft library is expected to be
completed by next spring. Thanks to efforts of dedicated USDA Rural
Development staff, the Swan's Island Educational Society was able to
secure grant funds in the amount of $398,000 in the form of a
Community Facility Grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act. This Grant was one of the largest in the nation given to a
library under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
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USDA Rural Development Deputy
Administrator for RUS Jessica Zufolo Visits Maine to Hear from Tribal
Communities
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Governors, Chiefs and other Key Members of Maine's
Native American Tribes Gathered with Administrator Jessica Zufolo,
State Director Virginia Manuel, and USDA Rural Development Senior
Directors to Discuss Rural Development Program Delivery on the
Substantially Underserved Trust Areas
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Maine USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia
Manuel welcomed USDA Rural Development Deputy Administrator for Rural
Utilities Service (RUS) Jessica Zufolo to Maine October 6 for an
important meeting with leaders of Maine's Native American tribes.
The Tribal Consultation was held at the Buchanan Alumni House at the
University of Maine at Orono. It began with a Native American
Smudging Ceremony (A blessing to remove negative energy through smoke
cleansing). At the Consultation, Deputy Administrator Zufolo
and State Director Manuel met with Chiefs, Governors, and key staff
from Maine's four Native American tribes for a discussion regarding
the Substantially Underserved Trust Areas (SUTA) lands. The purpose
of the visit was to discuss with the tribes whether they felt that
programs under RUS were being maximized on tribal lands. Programs of
focus are:
A discussion of key SUTA questions was held, with candid suggestions
made by members of the Tribes. The comments will be shared with Agriculture
Secretary Tom Vilsack to help improve the availability of RUS
programs on tribal communities in advance of the 2012 Farm Bill. The
Deputy Administrator was also given a tour of USDA Rural Development
funded projects on Indian Island by Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk
Francis.
Partnership is "Key"
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While in Maine, Deputy Administrator Zufolo also visited Eastern
Maine Medical Center for a demonstration of its Caring Connections
virtual intensive care unit. Caring Connections was funded through
a USDA Rural Development Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant
in the amount of $500,000.
Also while in Maine the Deputy Administrator was awarded the City
of Brewer's highest honor- a Key to the City (above). The key
symbolizes the community's appreciation for $30 million in USDA
Rural Development funding in water and wastewater infrastructure,
as well as providing funding for its Public Safety Building, where
the celebration took place.
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Left to Right: USDA Rural Development State
Director Virginia Manuel; City of Brewer Deputy Mayor Joe Ferris;
USDA Rural Development Deputy Administrator for Rural Utilities
Service Jessica Zufolo
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USDA Rural Development and
Farm Service Agency Seek Input at Biofuels Consultation Meetings
USDA Rural Development and the USDA Farm Service
Agency held a Forum on Expanding the U.S. Biofuels Market on October
15 at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. The Forum sought input
from local biofuels producers and stakeholders on the USDA's interim
plan on how to develop a successful biofuels market. The plan
outlines the development of a successful biofuels market capable of
achieving the U.S. Renewable Fuels Standards (RFS2) mandate of
producing and using 36 billion gallons or renewable transportation
fuel per year by 2022. This  may create approximately 800,000 new jobs.
Attendees shared their thoughts on how Maine biofuels producers can
support this important initiative as well as concerns about resources
in Maine needed to do so. The comments were recorded and will be
shared with USDA Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Rural
Development Under Secretary Dallas Tonsager.
One participant was Matt Bell, Owner of Northeast Pellets, LLC, in
Ashland, Maine. His mill suffered a fire last year, and with the help
of a USDA Rural Development Grant of $99,999 through a Rural Business
Enterprise Grant to the Town of Ashland, the
mill was rebuilt. It will produce over 40,000 tons
annually, displacing five million gallons of fuel oil and expects to open
operations for the winter
heating season in 3 to 4 weeks. (Pictured Above: USDA Rural
Development State Director Virginia Manuel and Farm Service Agency
State Executive Director Don Todd at the Biofuels Forum.)
USDA Rural Development will be front and center nationwide on
supporting the U.S. Renewable Fuels Standards mandate through a
variety of programs it has in its arsenal. Programs offered by USDA
Rural Development include the Section 9007 Rural Energy for America
Program, the Section 9005 Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels
Production Program, and the 9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program.
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Houlton Band of Maliseet
Indians and Partners Break Ground on New Health Center and
Multi-Family Housing
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Breaking Ground on Quality Healthcare: Indian Health
Service Acting Director, Office of Environmental Health and
Engineering, Nashville Area, Scott Helgeson; Houlton Band of
Maliseet Indians Chief Brenda Commander; Office of Senator Susan M.
Collins State Office Representative Phil Bosse; USDA Rural
Development State Director Virginia Manuel; Department of Housing
and Urban Development Field Office Director
William Burney.
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Before
partners broke ground on two important community projects on November
15, tribal member Dayna Boyce performed a sacred blessing over the
Maliseet tribal land, offering Tobacco to bless the earth and giving
thanks to the earth for the land to build upon. The Tribe will soon
have a brand new state-of-the-art health center and six units of
much-needed affordable family housing, thanks to its own
contributions and assistance from USDA Rural Development and
partners.
Appropriately, the two essential projects were broken ground on
during November's
Native
American Heritage Month, of which the theme this year
is "Promoting Healthy Families, Cultures and the
Environment." The two project help support this theme, by
promoting healthy families through both quality healthcare and
housing.
The Tribes current health center's building lacks space and privacy.
Some services are even housed in other buildings because there is no
room in the current center to provide those services. The Maliseet
Tribe's new health center will be a centralized facility large enough
to accommodate all of the services needed by the community. USDA
Rural Development contributed a $250,000 Rural Economic Impact
Initiative (REII) grant.
Other partners are The Indian Health Service, which is investing $1.4
million dollars in grant funds and the Department of Housing and
Urban Development which provided a grant in the amount of $600,000.
The Tribe also contributed, with $160,000 between cash contribution
and land value.
In addition to the new Health Center, a new apartment building is
also being constructed.
The six unit housing complex is the first Multi-family housing
facility funded by USDA Rural Development on Maliseet land. USDA
Rural Development is providing a one million dollar
Multi-Family Housing Rural Rental Housing Loan and the Tribe is
contributing $142,264.
USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel said,
"USDA Rural Development has
a saying that it can build a rural community from the ground up, and
the same is true in Maine's tribal communities. The new Health
Center and Multi-Family Housing being broken on today will impact
this community by providing quality healthcare and affordable housing
for its members."
Houlton Band
of Maliseet Indians Chief Brenda Commander added, “These two projects
represent a significant milestone for the tribe, helping to promote a
healthier community.”
In the past decade, USDA Rural Development has invested over $26
million in Maine's tribes, including helping to build a brand new
healthcare center and constructing multi-family housing, such as the
projects celebrated today, essential upgrades to water and wastewater
infrastructure, technical assistance for business plans for economic
and community development, homeownership, public safety, and much
more. Truly we are proud to call ourselves a partner in Maine's
tribal communities.
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USDA Rural Development and
Calais Regional Hospital Save Lives Through Early Detection
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Calais
Regional Hospital CEO Michael Lally holds framed artwork presented
by Virginia Manuel. The picture will brighten the Mammography
Room.Front Row: Cheryl Zwingman-Bagley, CNO; Suzanne Crawford,
Board Vice Chair; Michael K. Lally, CEO; Virginia Manuel, USDA
Rural Development State Director; Mona Van Wart, Breast Cancer
Survivor; Back Row: Camela Deschene, Director of Practice
Management; Kristi Saunders, Director Human Resources and
Compliance; Bonny Beausoleil, Mammographer; Bernie McAdam, CFO;
DeeDee Travis, Director Community Relations, Development and
Customer Service.
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On the first day of October Breast Cancer Awareness
Month 2010, USDA Rural Development and Calais Regional Hospital came
together with the mission of saving lives. The hospitals outdated
mammography machine was replaced with a state-of- the-art digital mammography
machine, funded in part by a $200,000 USDA Rural Development
Community Facilities Grant through the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act.
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USDA Rural Development Makes Homeownership Dreams Come True Across
Maine
In Fiscal
Year 2010 USDA Rural Development assisted 2,243 people in
Homeownership accross Maine through its Housing Programs. Here
are just a few of their stories:
- Indian Island, Old
Town-
The Sockbeson Family received a new, energy efficient,
1,482 square foot ranch home with 4 bedrooms. It was the first
home constructed in a new affordable housing subdivision on
Indian Island, and the first made possible through the One Stop
Mortgage documents, which allows USDA Rural Development and the
Penobscot Nation to partner to help tribal families obtain
homeownership. USDA Rural Development has funded three of
the six homes in the subdivision.
- Brunswick- Emily Weir and her
daughter Rose own a home in Brunswick, thanks to a USDA Rural
Development 502 Direct Loan through the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act. The home was originally financed through
Rural Development, and was bought back by Brunswick Housing
Authority in order to keep the previous owner out of
foreclosure. With assistance from HUD's Section 8 Voucher
Program, along with Maine Housing and Women, Work &
Community's Family Development Account, Ms. Weir was able to
obtain her own mortgage through Rural Development. Bath Savings
Institution aided Ms. Weir in getting the application process
started, and she acknowledges the assistance of Mid Coast Hunger
Prevention Program as being her only way to save money and
achieve the dream of homeownership.
- Oxford- Todd Therrien built
his home through a USDA Rural Development
Self-Help Housing Program Loan in partnership with Community
Concepts, Inc. The home is one of six constructed in the
neighborhood through the Self Help Housing Program. Homeowners
in the program build the homes under the supervision and
instruction from the professionals at Community Concepts Inc.
Each year three groups of six families or individuals
participate in the Mutual Self Help Housing Program and commit
every weekend for approximately 18 months to build each other's
homes. This program provides lower income families the
opportunity for homeownership and to develop the skills required
to properly maintain their homes.
- Washburn- Jeremy Poulin and Jacquelyn
Raymond lost all their belongings in a fire at their rental
property. The couple attended The Aroostook County Action
Program's Homeownership Class, where they learned about
Rural Development's 502 Direct Loan Program. The couple was able
to purchase a home through this Program through the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
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USDA
Agencies Provide Fresh Food to Local Shelter
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USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service State
Conservationist Juan Hernandez; Manna Ministries Executive Director
Bill Rae; USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel;
USDA Farm Service Agency State Executive Director Don Todd
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The leaders the USDA agencies of Rural Development,
Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency
delivered a bounty of fresh vegetables to Manna Ministries in Bangor
on September 10 - the eleventh and last delivery this summer. The heaps
of fresh tomatoes, summer squash, cucumbers and more were from the
recent harvest of The People's Garden, a collaborative effort of the
three agencies at the USDA State Office on Illinois Avenue, in
Bangor. In addition, donations from staff members' own gardens were
accepted.
Through the USDA's F5 Initiative
(which stands for Feds, Farmers, and Friends Feed Families) the
agencies were able to provide Manna with a total of 1,112 pounds of
food. This included 572 pounds of food donated by staff, including non-perishable
items and produce from their home gardens, as well as an impressive
540 pounds of fresh vegetables grown by staff in their People's
Garden.
People's Gardens
now exist in all 50 states, helping to promote health and wellness as
well as awareness about where our food comes from.
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Committed to the future of rural communities.
"USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and
lender."
To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA,
Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272
(voice), or (202) 720-6382
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