Houlton Maliseet to create space for hip teens with $1.2 million state grant

Lina Portman2 days ago

1 2 minutes read

HOULTON, Maine — A $1.2 million state grant will help fund a digitally equipped space for teens at the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians Boys and Girls Club in Houlton.

One of 12 organizations to receive a grant Monday from the Maine Connectivity Authority Connectivity Hub, the Boys and Girls Club renovation initiative expands the existing 3,278-square-foot facility to include space tailored to the needs of teens, said Jon Solomon, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Border Towns.

Solomon oversees the Mi'kmaq Boys and Girls Clubs in Presque Isle, Maliseet in Houlton and Passamaquoddy in Pleasant Point. The grant is for Houlton.

“We are very pleased to have been honoured to receive this grant. It will go a long way in providing a safe environment for underserved youth in the area, particularly our adolescent population,” Solomon said Tuesday.

The Connectivity Hub investments are part of the Maine Connectivity Authority’s goal to advance digital equity across the state. The authority was created in 2021 and is charged with ensuring universal access to affordable broadband in Maine.

A $1.2 million grant will expand the Houlton Maliseet Indian Band Boys and Girls Club with a dedicated teen space. The club is located on Foxcroft Road in Houlton. Credit: Houlton Maliseet Indian Band Boys and Girls Club

The grants were awarded to community organization projects such as libraries, community centres, affordable housing developments and municipal and tribal buildings impacted by a lack of access to high-speed internet. These organizations include the Caribou Public Library, $1,847,528; Mano en Mano, Milbridge, $1,784,497; the Passamaquoddy Tribe in Motahkomikuk, $545,612; and the St. George Municipal School Unit, Tenants Harbor, $684,715.

Salomon explained that the Maliseet Boys and Girls Club currently doesn't have many teens coming to the center for activities and educational opportunities because there are so many young children at the club and they don't feel like they have their own space.

“We hope this will attract more teenagers to the club,” he said.

The new 1,630-square-foot space, slated for construction in spring 2025, establishes a specialized area tailored to the needs of teens and will provide academic, emotional and physical support in a safe community environment, Solomon said.

The facility will also offer high-speed fiber optic internet access, on-site device access, digital skills courses and internet safety training, he added.

After talking to staff, adults in the community and businesses, Solomon said they found that many young people don't know how to interview for jobs and some don't know how to fill out job applications.

Educational programs aimed at preparing teens for the workforce, as well as other planned learning opportunities for teens such as Internet safety and etiquette, will help them after they graduate from high school, Solomon said.

They plan to receive funding in September and begin construction in spring 2025, with completion the following year, in spring 2026.