GREENVILLE, Maine — A new public safety building in Greenville is officially open.
Community leaders held an open house and ribbon cutting Saturday to celebrate the new 19,000-square-foot facility.
"This is dedicated to our heroes," Select Board Chair Eugene Murray Jr. said.
The building houses both the town's fire department and police department, bringing improvements to both.
"Stepping up and being a legitimate, top-of-the-line police department," Police Chief Jim Carr said.
Police officers now have an interview room and designated storage for evidence.
The old fire station had no hot water, poor insulation, and not enough space to fit all of their equipment.
"It's a huge deal," Fire Chief Sawyer Murray said. "We're able to spend our time now training, practicing driving trucks, more of the important stuff, rather than worrying about changing light bulbs, why isn't the heat working?"
With more space and efficiency, Murray said his team of firefighters will be able to better help the community.
"We're going to be more equipped, ready to go to respond to their needs if they are in need," he said.
The new public safety building was funded in part by an over $900,000 federal grant secured by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine in 2022.
"It was obviously a very unhealthy and dangerous environment for the firefighters, for police officers, for EMS personnel," Collins said. "And today we can celebrate a new, modern, efficient, and healthy public safety building."
The Greenville building is just one of the public safety buildings across the state that received federal funding.
Collins emphasized that rural communities face extra challenges—serving a broad area while often being short-staffed.
"They have to comply with the same regulations that larger cities have to comply with, so it's really important that we help them," Collins said.
Community leaders believe they will be able to better face those challenges with the improved facility.
"May it be a beacon of hope, resilience, and service for generations to come," Town Manager Mike Roy said.