The Kiwanis Club of Presque Isle formed Sinawik in 1976
as a separate for-profit entity with its own Officers and
Directors in partnership with Northern Maine Community
College to provide lower-cost housing to area homebuyers
while giving NMCC trade and technical occupation students construction experience.
Unfortunately, due to a curriculum change at NMCC, they have decided to discontinue the project and the 38th home in 2015 is the last home. The Bangor Daily News story below explains the details of the project conclusion but Sinawik is looking for ways to reinvent our purpose and continue to offer funding to benefit local residents.
In the past, Sinawik found a buyer through a first-come, first-served application process and provided the funds for residential construction students to purchase supplies and build the home rather than having students build projects and tearing them down afterward. We’re proud to support local business by purchasing the supplies from multiple local vendors.
The funds raised through the Sinawik project were used for scholarships to students who have worked on the Sinawik home and nominated by their instructors. Sinawik also made an annual donation to the Kiwanis Club of Presque Isle for local contributions to the community.
We’re very proud to be a part of a project that gave real-life experience to these students and we believe the partnership between Sinawik and NMCC was very valuable to the community and we are thankful it lasted for 38 years.
Sinawik is Kiwanis spelled backward.