The former Arthur D. Ingalls School at 144 High St. in Farmington, seen Tuesday, is being considered for a Franklin County Adult Education and Community Resource Hub. Voters in Regional School Unit 9 will be asked March 24 to authorize the district to accept up to $1.6 million of a $1.77 million grant to purchase the building. Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser

FARMINGTON — Voters in Regional School Unit 9 will decide March 24 whether to accept $1.6 million of a $1.77 million grant to purchase the former Arthur D. Ingalls School at 144 High St. in Farmington for a Franklin County Adult Education and Community Resource Hub.

The grant was obtained by Franklin County Adult Education.

Steps regarding the grant were shared at Tuesday evening’s Select Board meeting.

The warrant for the vote will be posted Friday in the 10 district towns, Mary Redmond-Luce, director of Franklin County Adult Education, said.

Students from Chesterville, Farmington, Industry, New Sharon, New Vineyard, Starks, Temple, Vienna, Weld and Wilton attend RSU 9 schools.

The building, also known as the Arthur D. Ingalls Center, was a former school that the district sold for $1, she said.

“We have a great opportunity in our community through the Maine Connectivity Authority,” Redmond-Luce said. “We were awarded $1.77 million to bring to Franklin County a resource community hub.”

Digital literacy for workforce training, education and telehealth or health care services are three things needed locally, according to 28 agencies working together, she said. “As we wrote this grant, adult education was sort of a natural fit. We already do education, we already do workforce training. What was known was we needed telehealth and digital literacy services.”

People need to be taught how to use new technology, she said. Adult education has been working with Greater Franklin Economic and Community Development to offer digital literacy programs. “I think what people don’t quite understand is the need,” she stressed.

Statistics from 2022 obtained from JobsEQ for Franklin County show:

• 838 adults have no high school diploma.

• 2,951 people did some workforce training but didn’t finish.

• 3,588 residents live in poverty.

• 1,798 households receive food stamps.

• 2,291 disabled people are not working.

Redmond-Luce said the community hub would bring organizations together. Leasing agreements would cover utilities and maintenance costs. The cost for heat and electricity is about $80,000. The owner, Engalls Leasing, will reimburse 80% of those costs the first year, 60% in year two, 40% in year three and 20% in year four, she said.

“It gives us time to secure leases with the 14,000 square feet that we are going to try to lease out to pay for that,” Redmond-Luce said. “So that we are not burdening taxpayers with additional funds.”

The goal is to help people who aren’t employed seek active employment and contribute to taxes, she said.

Western Maine Transportation Services has said it will add a stop downtown, Redmond-Luce said.

Selectman Richard Morton asked how adult education programs would change from what is offered at the Mt. Blue Campus in Farmington.

It’s not really changing, it’s adding more, such as a telehealth station and internet cafe with a teacher there to help with devices, Redmond-Luce replied.

Asked about a closing date, she said if the 10 towns say yes on March 24, a June closing date is anticipated.

“The grant has to be fully executed by June of 2026,” Redmond-Luce said.

Space used at the Mt. Blue Campus for adult education is needed for Foster Career and Technical Education Center programs, she said. The administration office is a 30-year-old modular unit that is probably past its life, she noted.

Selectman Dennis O’Neil said parking could be an issue.

Redmond-Luce said there are 20 parking spaces in back of the building.

Selectman Matthew Smith said it is a lot of money for an old building.

Chair Joshua Bell also voiced concern over the building’s age.

He asked if recent federal actions would affect the funding.

Redmond-Luce said the grant money is secure.

“It definitely will meet a lot of needs for people downtown,” Bell added.

“If you are not working right now, it does take a lot of support services to get somebody to be a taxpayer,” Redmond-Luce said.