RUMFORD – As more than 100 excited and upbeat people packed themselves into the lobby of the River Valley Technology Center Thursday morning for the official dedication of the new enterprise, director Norman MacIntyre could hardly contain his enthusiasm.

“You cannot know how satisfying to me and how happy I am that you are here. This is wicked cool,” he said.

The governor, a congressman, several state representatives, local officials and other bystanders stood in the hot lobby, waiting for a celebration that took more than four years to come.

That’s how long it took, from the initial proposal to the state that the River Valley get an applied technology center, to the completion of a century-old building’s renovation to house the RVTC just a few weeks ago.

Determination, challenging competition, nearly $3 million in federal and state money, and hard work by the River Valley Growth Council, headed by Joseph Derouche, netted the area one of only seven state-supported technology centers in Maine.

That center, which focuses on the precision metal trades and other manufacturing, is located in a former, century-old bag mill donated by MeadWestvaco Corp. It is designated as a statewide manufacturing business incubator, which means fledgling manufacturing businesses can get inexpensive space as well as expert business advice.

The RVTC is also now the home of the local chamber, the River Valley Growth Council and the Maine Career Center. Future plans call for use of a portion of the former paper mill for a process known as fractionation. This new technology turns wood resources into chemicals, oil and other compounds that can be used to produce a variety of products.

U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud has been working with the RVGC to get a tech center in the River Valley for some time.

“This is a big, bold investment for our state. It will turn natural resources into products we need,” he said. “The center will also redefine how paper is made. The Fractionation Development Center (planned for the fourth floor) will attract industries that we’ve never had.”

Getting the nearly $3 million needed to renovate the old mill into the modern technology center was a bipartisan effort. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, along with state representatives and state Sen. Bruce Bryant, D-Dixfield, worked to secure the funding needed.

State Rep. Randy Hotham, R-Dixfield, said the new tech center is solid evidence that the future is bright for the River Valley.

“This shows that we are alive and well and looking forward to the future. This is a great day for the River Valley. I am so pleased we’ve learned to work together while maintaining individual towns. This proves that if you build it, they will come,” he said.

The RVTC’s first manufacturing tenant, Northwest Precision Co., a high-end precision metal products business, plans to move in next week.

The center and its plans to diversify the area’s economy comes as good news to many in both the River Valley and other areas of the state.

Bruce Bornstein, a Maine Technology Institute member, said the RVTC represents the changes in the future many want to see.

“This is pretty fabulous. We want to see this full,” he said.

Rick Dorey, an International Paper retiree and former Franklin County Development member, said the tech center is a fantastic start. “It’s all about long-term employment,” he said.