RUMFORD – It has taken several years and millions of dollars, and on Thursday the long-awaited River Valley Technology Center will be dedicated.

An open house will be held to celebrate the completion of an idea by Mexico Town Manager and River Valley Growth Council President Joseph Derouche.

“I’m incredibly excited,” said Norman MacIntyre, director of the technology center, one of seven in the state. “We have the potential to impact outcomes in the region for years.”

Beginning at 10:45 a.m. Thursday, MacIntyre, Gov. John E. Baldacci, U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud, representatives of U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, local officials and others will speak about the importance of the technology center to the area, and discuss the varying levels of cooperation needed to bring the center to the River Valley.

At 11:45 a.m., the building that houses the center will be dedicated. It will be named for Derouche. A plaque naming the building the Joseph P. Derouche Applied Technology Development Center will be hung in the lobby.

“This is an example of an idea that has become something, that stuff is happening in this area,” said MacIntyre. “This is a time to celebrate, to show off the building and for the community to recognize Joe Derouche.”

When the state announced plans for establishing technology centers and business incubators several years ago under former Gov. Angus King, Derouche jumped on the idea and pursued the plan until Rumford was named one of the seven in the state. He, along with the growth council, also worked with state and federal agencies to get the nearly $3 million needed to renovate one floor of the building into the technology center.

The open house and tours continue until 3 p.m.