RUMFORD — Regional School Unit 10 officials hope to receive $500,000 to go toward a wellness and fitness center at a school planned for Mexico, if funding proposed by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is approved by Congress.

Superintendent Deb Alden said Monday the district is excited about the possible funding.

The district must raise $1.1 million for the wellness and fitness center project, Alden said.

RSU 10 officials have also applied for funding through U.S. Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, and U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-2nd District.

“We have heard that all of our Legislators feel it is a very worthy project for our community in the western foothills,” Alden said, adding district officials hope to secure full funding for the project by spring of 2023.

If funds are raised for the wellness and fitness center, it would be built at a new school planned for Mexico.

Students, staff members and members of the public would use the wellness and fitness center, which would reportedly include space for community activities, including smoking cessation classes and weight loss support.

In June, voters in RSU 10 communities approved a new $91.8 million school for Mexico and Rumford elementary and middle school students.

The new school is to serve students in prekindergarten through eighth grade and house Child Development Services, which serves children with disabilities, Alden said in June.

About 98% of the new school’s cost is to be paid with subsidized bonds from the Maine Department of Education.

The school is planned for the site of Mountain Valley Middle School at 58 Highland Terrace and Meroby Elementary School at 21 Cross St., both in Mexico. It is to replace those schools and Rumford Elementary School.

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