Governor LePage To Cut Ribbon On New Penobscot County Resource for Mentally Ill Mainers To Gain Meaningful Employment

Bangor, Maine - Governor Paul R. LePage will be in Bangor on Friday to celebrate the grand opening of the Unlimited Solutions Clubhouse, a new resource that empowers those with mental illness to be healthy, productive and self-sufficient contributors to their communities.

The Clubhouse, which opened on Summer Street in mid-October and is part of Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC), joins others in Waterville, Augusta and Auburn-Lewiston that provide a supportive space in which Mainers with mental illness can prepare and be placed with meaningful employment opportunities. In all Clubhouse employment, the member is an employee of the company, earns a competitive wage and receives a pay check directly from the company.

Governor LePage, who has received national recognition for his leadership and advocacy on behalf of the High Hopes Clubhouse in Waterville, will join Clubhouse members for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and to speak about the important contributions those with mental illness make to Maine.

Clubhouse members will then lead the Governor and members of the media on a tour of the facility.

Additional speakers include: Ann Wiersma, PCHC Board Chair; Ken Schmidt, MPA, President and Chief Executive Officer, PCHC; Trip Gardner, MD, Chief Psychiatric Officer, PCHC; Lisa Soucie, Director of the Waterville High Hopes  Clubhouse; and Carrie Lemos, OTR/L, CBIS, Director, Unlimited Solutions Clubhouse.

WHEN: 10 to 11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 2

WHERE: Unlimited Solutions Clubhouse, 30 Summer Street, Bangor