LEWISTON – Androscoggin Bank received recognition as the local funding partner of the Oxford Networks’ Southern Gateway Development District Project during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Lisbon Street construction site recently.

“Great economic development really begins with a great funding partner,” said Jim Bennett, Lewiston’s city administrator. “We’re pleased that Androscoggin Bank, the only locally controlled bank in the Twin Cities, is the financier of the project.”

“Androscoggin Bank’s lending departments work hard to be nimble and responsive to local opportunities,” said Paul Andersen, senior vice president of commercial lending.

As a funding partner with Oxford Networks, the city of Lewiston and Franklin Property Trust, Androscoggin Bank will provide financing for the multimillion dollar construction project that will house Oxford Networks’ state-of-the-art fiber optics telecommunications system that will serve Lewiston and Auburn.

The project includes three new office buildings and a 200 to 400 car-parking garage. Situated at Lisbon and Maple streets and considered the new gateway to the communities of Lewiston/Auburn, construction will include a renovated streetscape complete with sidewalks, landscaping, buried utilities and streetlights. In addition, the development project allows for renovations to the Public Theatre on Maple Street.