AUGUSTA — Debora Rountree, director of University of Maine at Augusta East Millinocket Center, is the recipient of the Maine Development Foundation Honors 2024 Champion of Rural Economic Development Award.
According to the MDF website, “The Champion of Rural Economic Development Award was created by MDF to honor an individual or organization that envisions great potential and possibilities for Maine’s rural communities and works to make that vision a reality. It recognizes organizations and individuals who are dedicated to high standards for their community, defend its unique character, profess a vision, and rally behind its economic potential. Awardees demonstrate outstanding collaboration, leadership, innovation, a commitment to a shared set of values and may be professionals, volunteers, whole organizations or businesses.”
Presenting the award, Rosie Vanadestine, chief operating officer with MDF, said, “Deb is the poster child for all of this. Her official title is: executive director of Rural Development Initiatives for Eastern Maine Community College and the University of Maine at Augusta. It is a big title and yet it only scratches the surface of all the broad ways Deb helps improve lives and fuel careers for thousands in the Katahdin region.”
Rountree has served the people of the Katahdin region for nearly 30 years connecting people with jobs, job training, higher education, and childcare. Rountree herself earned her associate of science degree in social services from UMA, and both her bachelor’s degree in mental health and human services and master’s degree in education from the University of Maine.
The honor came as a surprise to Rountree. “I wasn’t expecting it!” she said, “I just get personal satisfaction seeing others succeed. It just drives you to want to help more people and provide hope.”
Rountree’s work at UMA’s East Millinocket center began in 1995 when she was brought on as assistant director, and she has dedicated her career to helping others succeed. In 2002, when the closing of the paper mills nearly devastated the Millinocket area, she worked tirelessly to help the displaced workers find new employment. Approximately 8,000 people across the state sought career retraining as a result. Rountree partnered with individuals who reached out to the center. By evaluating their previous education and job skills, and also recognizing the skills they possessed beyond their trade job titles, she helped workers find new career paths in IT, nursing, mental health and more, and guided those who needed or wanted further education into programs that matched their goals.
When she saw how big the need was for childcare, Rountree was instrumental in establishing a facility onsite at the East Millinocket center. In 2022, she wrote a grant to refurbish and expand it to meet the community’s growing childcare needs. Vandestine said, “Deb’s project of passion, the state-of-the-art childcare center is meeting early childhood development for hundreds of children while simultaneously erasing a significant barrier for countless families, allowing parents to pursue their dreams while knowing their children are in safe and nurturing hands.”
Addressing the needs of students experiencing food insecurity, the UMA center provided a food pantry for over seven years.
Rountree actively serves on several boards including the Katahdin Chamber of Commerce, the Katahdin Collaborative, The Katahdin Region Development Board and is a founding member of Katahdin Revitalization. As part of the Katahdin Revitalization efforts, she works with companies looking to relocate to the area, thus increasing much needed job opportunities, revenue, and new technologies to the region. As a result of her efforts, the area’s first indoor salmon farm will be built next year.
“The most wonderful part of my job is when you get to know the people in your community and you get to help make positive transitions in their lives,” said Rountree. University and community leaders attended the award ceremony to celebrate and thank her for her leadership, service, and the impact she has had transforming the lives and empowering the communities in the Katahdin Region.
UMA transforms the lives of students of every age and background across the State of Maine and beyond through access to high-quality distance and on-site education, excellence in student support, civic engagement, and professional and liberal arts programs. For more information, please visit https://www.uma.edu/.
