CARIBOU — USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel presented the Northern Aroostook Wells and Septics Program (NAWSP) with a Homeownership Partner of the Year Award on July 15 at Northern Maine Development Commission’s Office in Caribou.
Contributed photo
Celebrating the new award received by officials with the Northern Aroostook Wells and Septics Program were, from left, front row: Aroostook County Action Program Housing Development Officer Jeff Heron; USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel; St. Agatha Town Manager and Northern Aroostook Wells and Septics Program (NAWSP) Lead Community Representative Christy Sirois and NAWSP Board Member Lewis Cousins. Second row: NAWSP Administrator Joella Theriault of the Northern Maine Development Commission; District Representative Barbara Hayslett of Congressman Michaud’s office and NAWSP Steering Committee Chairman Dan LaPointe. Back row: USDA Rural Development Area Specialist Cheryl Pelletier and USDA Rural Development Area Director Thomas Stevens.
“I am so pleased to recognize the Northern Aroostook Wells and Septics Program as a Homeownership Partner of the Year Award recipient. NAWSP has been assisting residents in Aroostook County communities to remain proud homeowners through providing rehabilitation to both drinking water and septic systems, and even home replacements since the year 2000,” Manuel said. “They have been a dedicated partner of USDA Rural Development since our partnership began in 2006.”
As a result of the hard work on behalf of NAWSP and USDA Rural Development, 25 families have been assisted since the partnership began in 2006, according to USDA officials. Working with many community partners, Northern Aroostook Wells and Septics Program has assisted a total of 225 families for a total of approximately $2.5 million invested in homeownership, helping local families to maintain homeownership where otherwise it may not be possible since 2000.
Town Manager of St. Agatha and NAWSP Lead Community Representative Christy Sirois received the award on behalf of wells and septic program, saying “The partnership the NAWSP group has with Rural Development and other area agencies is what helps to make the program so successful. We all have the same goal of helping the residents of northern Aroostook County improve their quality of living and by partnering together we can work toward that goal more effectively,” he added. “The NAWSP group looks forward to continuing its partnership with Rural Development.”
The NAWSP initiative is also made possible by the Department of Environmental Protection, Aroostook County Action Program, private dollars from homeowners, and the USDA Rural Development Housing Preservation Grant Program. The NAWSP Program was also named the outstanding Community Development Block Grant program for the year 2000 as well as the “Best Practices” winner by the Maine State Office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
To date this fiscal year, USDA Rural Development has financed approximately 80,000 home loans, nationwide. In Maine USDA Rural Development has assisted 1,469 families or individuals so far this fiscal year in obtaining or maintaining homeownership. Since Fiscal Year 2005 USDA Rural Development has invested over $170 million in Aroostook County through its housing, business, and community programs.
