MEXICO – It was a first-time visit for U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine, to the River Valley area. He’d been up in the Rangeley area fishing in the past, but had never visited the local paper mill, hospital or met with area officials.

“It renews our contacts up here,” said the First District congressman.

He, along with U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud, D-Maine, spent most of the day talking to chamber members, municipal officials and businesspeople, looking over the soon-to-be River Valley Technology Center, listening to Rumford Hospital administrator concerns, and in general, getting a feel for the area.

Michaud, the Second District congressman and representative for the River Valley region, has been to the area before, but he didn’t realize the sometimes difficult status of rural hospitals like Rumford Hospital. He wants to try to get some aid for Rumford and other small medical facilities.

Allen staffer, Jackie Potter, said it was a real eye-opener to hear first-hand the difficulties small hospitals face.

Michaud learned more about the River Valley’s pyrolysis project and said he would try to get some crucial funding needed to make it happen. Pyrolysis is a technique that turns wood into chemicals, and with further processing, can be made into hydrogen fuel.

Local state representatives Sen. Bruce Bryant, D-Dixfield, and Rep. John Patrick, D-Rumford, were very forceful, he said, in explaining the importance of the proposed project for the area.

Allen had seen most of the paper mills in Maine, but not Rumford’s MeadWestvaco Corp., and a Calpine Corp. gas-fired power plant is located in Westbrook, in his district. He got to see the sister plant, known as Rumford Power Associates in Rumford.

In the morning, the two congressmen met with Rumford Town Manager Robert Welch, toured the future industrial park site and discussed economic issues in that town.

Allen said one of the prime pushes he got to tour the River Valley came from Rumford Selectman Jolene Lovejoy.

“When she came to Washington, D.C., she said I had to visit the area,” he said.

He’s glad he did.

“There’s nothing like laying eyes on a facility or an area,” he said. “I got a better feel for the Second District.”

River Valley Growth Council President Joseph Derouche and RVGC economic developer Scott Christiansen said they will keep in constant contact with Michaud’s office as development ideas and needs arise.

Bryant was pleased that both congressmen visited the area.

“They understand some of our issues and heard some of our concerns and both want to work together. Having them here shows that all parts of Maine are important and that they’ve got to pay attention to us,” he said.


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