Training Center 'benefits every town and resident in York County' - Grand Opening Ceremony held Friday May 1
- Tammy L Wells
- May 3
- 3 min read
ALFRED, Maine – A longtime vision became reality when the York County Regional Training Center opened its doors to its first training class Jan. 3 and on Friday, May 1, first responders, municipal officials, and others – including U.S. Senator Susan M. Collins – stopped by to mark the Grand Opening Ceremony.
Building it took just over a year. Planning it took 3-4 years. First responders have been dreaming of having such a facility for decades.
And, pointed out YCRTC director Roger Hooper, it took an international pandemic to produce the funding. Without the American Rescue Plan Act and other funding, the dream would not have become reality.
“This facility is the largest single investment in first responders in Maine, ever,” said Hooper.
And with the ability to provide consistent and up-to-date training to first responders from recruitment to retirement, it is designed to bring vast returns - in the form of safety - to every community in York County. There are training opportunities for police, corrections, firefighters, EMS providers and dispatchers.
More than 1,500 first responders have received training in the four months it has been open.
There were bagpipers and honor guards and all disciplines of first responders on hand to mark this significant moment in York County.
Sen. Collins took a tour before the ceremony, and among the stops she made was an EMS classroomwhere instructor Nickie Tarbell showed her a lifelike teaching aide – a pediatric mannequin that can show signs of medical distress.
At the podium during the ceremony, Collins noted the collaboration between the training center and York County Community College. She called the training center “an outstanding example of what we can so when we work in partnership.”
“We must ensure first responders have the facilities and equipment to train,” she said. “That is why I worked hard to secure $3.4 million for components of this training center, including support for the construction of the facility, simulators, and other EMS, fire and law enforcement training equipment essential to the center’s mission.”
In all, the training center cost about $24 million – most of which came from York County Government’s allotment of ARPA funds, and from Congressionally Designated Spending.
Sarah Stanley, Senator Angus King’s York County representative, read a letter from the senator, who noted the project “reflects the dedication and collaboration of many.”
“This facility creates a centralized, modern space where our public safety professionals can train together, learn together, and prepare together,” said York County Manager Greg Zinser. “It strengthens our ability to recruit, to develop talent, and to retain the highly skilled individuals that our communities depend on. It also allows us to build consistency in training and operations across jurisdictions—something that benefits every town and every resident in York County.”
York County Commission Chair Richard Dutremble noted that 15 years ago, the board hired Zinser and asked him to be progressive in providing more services in York County, and that happened with a recovery center called Layman Way that worked in conjunction with the courts. Then, when ARPA funding emerged, York County Commissioners held public hearings, to determine how best to serve the municipalities now and in the future.
“I hope everyone in York County is proud of this center because it will save lives,” Dutremble said.
York County Community College President Dr. Michael Fischer called the training center “a testament of vision, leadership and collaboration.”
“(This center) will be transformative for the citizens of York County for years to come,” said Fischer.
Collins and others: Among those taking part in the Grand Opening Ceremony of the York County Regional Training Center were York County Commissioner Richard Dutremble, York County Manager Greg Zinser, U.S. Senator Susan M. Collins, York County Regional Training Center Director Roger Hooper, York County Emergency Management Agency Deputy Director Megan Arsenault, York County Community College President Dr. Michael Fischer and York County Emergency Management Agency Director Aart Cleaves.
