LEWISTON – With community impact as a yardstick, United Way of Androscoggin County announced $1 million worth of investment decisions for 2007 at a meeting Wednesday morning.

The money is distributed in a new way that divides it among five impact areas. It focuses on measurable results and year-round communication between the local nonprofit agencies and United Way volunteers.

One-third of the $1 million goes to agencies related to health care and other essential needs. About 21 percent is allocated to an area called “Thriving Families and Successful Children.” Impact areas titled “Dynamic Community,” “Personal and Community Safety,” and “Life-Long Learning” each get about 15 percent.

Jennifer Willey, who chairs the oversight committee of the United Way’s Impact Council, said the allocations are based on what the community asked the agency to do.

Willey said it took many meetings of the Impact Council’s five committees to hammer out a framework for the new investment model that “enables us to go from good to great.”

Joleen Bedard, executive director of United Way of Androscoggin County, said about 3,000 hours of work by 60 volunteers went into the three-year process of designing a community impact investment model. She said another community needs assessment will be undertaken in 2010.

“United Way has turned into a year-round agency,” Willey said, noting that 2007 marks the 75th anniversary of the organization in Androscoggin County.

“Change of this magnitude can be exciting and also challenging,” board Chairman Mark Anthoine told about two dozen members of United Way’s board of directors, staff, Impact Council volunteers and agency representatives who attended Wednesday’s meeting.

He said the Impact Council meetings that led to the new system required many intense sessions of clarification, debate and discussion.

The $1 million level of investment for 2007 covers 39 programs in 29 area agencies. This year, there are four new agencies and five new programs included in the funding.

United Way of Androscoggin County raised about $1.7 million in its recent campaign. In addition to the $1 million in community investment announced Wednesday, the organization helps fund other programs such as the statewide 2-1-1 comprehensive phone access to health and human services. Other funds go to agencies specifically designated by donors. United Way’s local overhead is less than 10 percent of the funds raised.

Bedard said specific amounts allocated to individual agencies will be posted on the United Way Web site, www.unitedwayandro.org, by April 13.