DOVER-FOXCROFT – Shovels full of earth were turned Thursday evening to signify the construction phase of a new building for Womancare on the Mayo Regional Hospital campus.

“We are so excited,” Linda Howard, co-chairman of Womancare’s fundraising Capital Campaign, told the approximately 60 people who gathered for the event on Mechanic Street.

The organization which provides support and advocacy to people affected by domestic abuse in Piscataquis and southwestern Penobscot counties, secured a $310,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture loan in 2002 and were advised this week that they were awarded a $170,000 USDA Rural Development Community Facilities grant for the building.

Michael Aube, state director for USDA Rural Development, who attended the groundbreaking Thursday, told the group that his department was very pleased to contribute to the project.

Howard and her co-chairman Sue Mackey-Andrews recalled Thursday that they were spurred on about a year ago during a visit from Camden resident Doris Buffett of The Sunshine Lady Foundation, Inc. That foundation works to break the cycle of poverty, abuse and economic dependence.

“I think we both were a little intimidated that day,” Andrews said of the visit from Warren Buffett’s sister. Andrews said Buffett has been a phenomenal source of support, motivation and challenge to the group, which still needs to raise about $350,000 to pay off the mortgage and provide the local matching share of funds to obtain the federal grant.

Jim Wentworth, a steering committee member, and Cynthia Freeman-Cyr, Womancare’s resource development coordinator, were recognized for their continuous service to the organization.

Womancare employees and the organization’s steering committee contributed about $50,000 toward the local match, participants were told. An added boost was given Thursday when Amy Guyotte, Bangor Savings Bank branch assistant manager, announced the bank had donated $10,000 for the project. It is hoped that other organizations and institutions also will contribute.

Representatives from the offices of U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and of U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, as well as state Rep. Jim Annis of Dover-Foxcroft spoke during the ceremony.

“We come together with Womancare and friends from the community to take part in the next phase for the ‘A New Day’ Capital Campaign with a turning of the soil to signal the next step toward meeting the goal of improving confidentiality for clients, enhancing educational programming and expanding services to families affected by domestic abuse,” Snowe wrote in a letter read by Mark Kontio, her staff assistant.