Joan Ferrini-Mundy

A timeline has not yet been set for the project, touted as a "catalyst" for the Orono school and the future of health care in Maine.

UMaine is well positioned to start a public medical school, but $250 million in startup costs plus tens of millions for operations mean the project is not financially feasible.

The new contract provides for stipend increases, health insurance benefits and free tuition for the 900 workers represented by the union.

Modern manufacturing increasingly uses “smart” robotics and automation technology, known as “Industry 4.0.” The facility is designed to strengthen the worker pipeline.

A $3 million renovation includes a new lab, DNA and imaging equipment and drone monitors to accelerate development of potato varieties, which typically takes years.

Millions of federal dollars have been frozen from grant programs at research labs across the state, and the Univ. of Maine has had funding terminated from a number of programs. Some of the grant dollars have been restored, others are tied up in legal action.

Maine is home to more than 130 dairy farms that care for herds of dairy cows, goats and sheep and that steward 700,000 acres of farmland.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is working with the Dept. of Commerce to restore federal funding for the Maine Sea Grant program, but the department says the program must meet with Trump administration guidelines.

The 50,000-square-foot facility is designed as a digital manufacturing environment powered by high-performance computing and artificial intelligence.

The estate gift can be used in a wide variety ways to support UMaine athletics, and will also help the university move closer to meeting the match to leverage a $170 million grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation.