York County facility offers state-of-the art training for first responders
ALFRED – A new state-of-the-art facility will bring training
opportunities close to home for York County first responders.
County officials, first responders, and representatives from
York County Community College gathered Wednesday at the brand new York County
Regional Training Center, at 79 First County Way in Alfred.
York County Community College President Michael Fischer and
York County Manager Greg Zinser signed a Memorandum of Agreement outlining cost
sharing, facility use and curriculum development as well as other aspects.
Through the agreement, the college and the county are deepening
a partnership that brings together their respective strengths, said Zinser.
“The county brings a modern, purpose-built Regional Training
Center, and the college brings academic rigor, accreditation, and instructional
excellence,” said Zinser. “Together we are creating a coordinated, sustainable
pipeline for education and training in criminal justice, law enforcement,
emergency medical services, and other first-responder disciplines.”
The collaboration supports local workforce needs and helps ensure
first responders are well trained, he said.
“When we strengthen training and education, we strengthen
public safety. When we support career pathways locally, we strengthen our
workforce. And when institutions collaborate instead of operating in silos, the
entire community benefits,” said Zinser.
Fischer concurred.
“York County Community College exists to develop an
educated, skilled, and adaptable workforce. The County exists to serve and
protect this community. When we align our efforts and resources, everyone
benefits—our students, first responders, and the residents who rely on these
services every day,” he said.
The $24 million building was made possible through American
Rescue Plan Act funds as well as Congressionally Directed funding, grants and
county funds.
York County Commissioner Richard Clark said when the county
received $40.3 million in ARPA funds, there was a lot of discussion and community
input before decisions were made on how to spend it.
“We knew this was once-in-a-lifetime money, and we wanted to
do something that had a long-term effect,” said Clark.
The training center will be used primarily to train York
County firefighters, emergency medical technicians, police officers and
dispatchers, however, York County Regional Training Center Director Roger Hooper
said there are many opportunities for its use.
The Alfred facility is different from others as it has training
capacity for multiple branches of public safety.
“This is unique to Maine. There is nothing else like this in
the state of Maine,” said Hooper.
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York County Regional Training Center Director Roger
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Hooper and other county officials gave a tour of the facility,
which features a 124-seat auditorium, meeting room with video conferencing
technology, training rooms which include a mock ambulance built to scale, a jail
cell, and plans for a dispatcher console. There is also a garage with bays that
can accommodate fire engines, a gym and locker rooms, and a decontamination
center that can be used to rid biohazards from people, dogs, clothing and equipment.
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A mock jail cell at the York County Regional Training Center. PHOTO BY LIZ GOTTHELF |
Public safety departments outside York County, as well as
school and private businesses, can use the building for a fee.
The computer room, which will be equipped with cameras, will
meet standards for testing for licensing and certifications, and could be used as
a testing center for occupations outside public safety. The county has also
been contacted by an arborist interested in using the fire training tower for
rope and climbing training.
Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at
[email protected].
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