AUGUSTA — Debora Rountree, executive director of rural development initiatives for Eastern Maine Community College and the University of Maine at Augusta East Millinocket Center, has been named recipient of the Maine Development Foundation Honors 2024 Champion of Rural Economic Development Award.

Rountree started at the University of Maine at Augusta’s East Millinocket center in 1995 as assistant director. 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, according to a news release. Rountree partnered with individuals who reached out to the center. By evaluating their previous education and job skills, 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.

Rountree was instrumental in establishing a childcare 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. She was also involved with the UMA center’s food pantry.

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.

Rosie Vanadestine, the foundation’s chief operating officer, presented the award.