ORONO – In a move that will increase opportunities for Maine businesses and University of Maine faculty and students, the University of Maine announced a $6.2 million U.S. Army research program in the UMaine Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center. The program takes advantage of newly expanded laboratory space financed with a voter-approved bond in 2004.

The research will focus on studies of high strength structures for military applications, including advanced materials, tent protective structures, high-performance airbeams, rigidified inflatable structures, rapidly deployable bridges and ballistic modular building components. Center engineers will work with the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Center and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and U.S. Reps. Michael Michaud and Thomas Allen attended the event. U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe was represented by Gail Kelly. Representing the U.S. Army were Frank Kostka, director of collective protection, U.S. Army Natick Soldier Center; and Dr. Reed Mosher, technical director, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ERDC Center, Vicksburg, Miss.

Jack Cashman, commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, represented Gov. John Baldacci. Tim Hodgdon of Hodgdon Yachts, Boothbay Harbor, addressed benefits for Maine industry.

University of Maine President Robert Kennedy, University of Maine System Chancellor Joseph Westphal and Vice President for Research Michael Eckardt discussed the importance of the U.S. Army program.

After the presentations a tour of the center’s laboratory, including the $4.5 million expansion, was conducted.

The 15,000-square-foot addition was a key part of UMaine’s ability to meet the Army’s research needs, said Habib Dagher, the center’s director. “The facilities investment by the voters, the Legislature and the governor allowed us to take on this large new program,” he said.