HOULTON — The Houlton Community Arts Center Council (HCACC) received a donation of $30,000 from Katahdin Trust Company in support of their on going $2.5 million capital campaign.
Submitted photo
GIFT — Katahdin Trust Company presents $30,000 to the Houlton Community Arts Center. From left are: Jon Prescott President and CEO of Katahdin Trust Company, Joe Fagnant, President of HCACC, Barrett Potter, Asst. Vice President and Commercial Services Officer and Annette Beaton, Vice President and Manager of Houlton office.
“We recognize the significant contribution that the arts and cultural programs have in the overall development of our communities,” said Jon Prescott, President & CEO of Katahdin Trust Company, “and we are pleased to support this very important initiative that will help to strength the economic vitality of the southern Aroostook area.”
Katahdin Trust Company with roots dating back to 1918 is the largest community bank in northern Maine. With nearly $420 million in assets, the bank provides personal and business banking services from offices in Ashland, Caribou, Eagle Lake, Easton, Fort Fairfield, Houlton, Island Falls, Limestone, Mars Hill, Oakfield, Patten, Presque Isle, Van Buren and Washburn, online at www.katahdintrust.com, and operates a loan production office in Scarborough. .
“The support of a prominent bank such as Katahdin Trust Company is a major boost to this project,” said Joe Fagnant, president of HCACC. “This gift will lead us through these next several months of fundraising.”
Funds raised through the Houlton Community Arts Center capital campaign will allow for a renovation of current arts space at Houlton High School and the addition of 13,000 sq. feet of new construction as a visual and performing arts center.
“I strongly support the project and the construction/expansion of this facility which will continue our musical tradition and provide a showplace for generations to come,” stated Annette Beaton, vice president and manager of Katahdin Trust Company Houlton office.
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.
“As the parent of a child involved in the Houlton School of Dance and a life-long believer in the benefits of school/community music programs, I personally feel the Houlton Community Arts Center is the next step in providing a state of the art facility to take our musical programs to the next level,” said Barrett Potter, assistant vice president and commercial services officer for Katahdin Trust Company. “The communities of the Greater Houlton Area are blessed to have had a strong music history and that legacy continues on today.”
The Houlton Community Arts Center Council, is a 501C3 organization that is seeking to raise $2.5 million in private funds to match the recent bond referendum that was supported by voters of MSAD #29. The aggressive campaign has an eight-month time line in place so that the project can meet goals to move forward in a timely manner. More information about the campaign can be received by calling Joe Fagnant at 532-6551 or going to www.houltonarts.org.
