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PORTLAND, Maine

Governor Paul LePage announces plan to repay hospital debt, release bond funds, at UNE

Maine Governor Paul LePage selected the future home of University of New England's Patient Care Center on Stevens Avenue in Portland as the backdrop to announce proposed legislation to repay debt to Maine's hospitals and make available voter-approved bond funds for projects, including the Patient Care Center.

The emergency legislation as proposed calls for the state to satisfy its $186 million hospital debt by authorizing a revenue bond on future liquor sales by retaining operational control of liquor regulation in 2014, when the state's 10-year private contract expires. 

LePage says this contract is worth millions of dollars to the state. Once the hospital debt is satisfied, Governor LePage says he will sell all authorized but unissued bonds, including a $3.5 million bond awarded to UNE for the College of Dental Medicine Patient Care Center.

The Center will house classrooms, labs, and clinical practice facilities for UNE's new College of Dental Medicine, which opens this fall. UNE has contracted with Allied Cook Construction to build the facility, resulting in the creation of 100 jobs in the state, according to Allied Cook President Matt Cook.

In introducing Governor LePage, UNE President Danielle Ripich said, "I'm thrilled the Governor selected this site for today's event.  He is passionate about education and has shown a great interest in our mission here at UNE.  He understands the contributions education makes to Maine's economy."  Leaders from hospitals around the state were present for the announcement.

After the announcement, President Ripich added, "We are very pleased the Governor has made a commitment to pay back Maine's hospital debt and release these important bond funds, so that we, too, can stay on track for a timely opening of our dental school, meet our financial obligations, and continue to educate students for jobs that are vital to Maine's economy and quality of life."

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.