RUMFORD – A giant step in the renovation and updating of Rumford Hospital took place late Friday afternoon with an official ground-breaking for the nearly $2 million project.

“We’ve always wanted to work on this facility, and this is a great start. This is a milestone that will give us a lot of momentum,” said Peter Chalke, president of Central Maine Medical Center, the parent organization of Rumford Hospital.

Planned is a total reconstruction of the entrance to the c. 1925 facility, along with renovation of the emergency room, expansion of the day surgery unit, and much more privacy and family space for patients in day surgery and in the emergency room. The hospital will also have handicapped accessible walkways and entrance.

The original granite stepped and pillared entrance will be closed off. The new entrance will be built at the emergency room entryway.

Hospital Chief Executive Officer John Welsh said the original entrance and portion of the hospital will eventually be used for medically-related offices.

The general contractor is Ledgewood Contruction of Portland, the same firm that is making multimillion-dollar changes at Black Mountain of Maine.

Scott Cristina, senior project manager for Ledgewood, said construction will begin at the rear of the hospital on the day surgery unit next week. The entire project is expected to be completed by July, he said.

Nearly $400,000 for the project came from federal omnibus bills secured by Rep. Michael Michaud, D-Maine, who attended Friday’s ceremony. He secured $100,000 last year and another $275,000 this year. And he was asked to look for more next year.

Michaud said he fights particularly hard for the Rumford area because it is similar to his hometown of Millinocket.

He said health care is not only important for local residents, but also critical to economic development. Potential investors look at the educational system and health care facilities when they seek to locate or relocate to an area, he said.

Welsh presented 35-year member of the Rumford Hospital board, Tony Poirier, with a hard hat complete with his name inscribed on it

“He’s been there through many projects. Tony has been at my side for hundreds of meetings trying to put together this project,” Welsh said.