FORT KENT – Northern Maine Medical Center, which serves the upper St. John Valley and neighboring communities, will receive a $99,000 rural development loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The funds will be applied to an elevator project under way at Forest Hill Manor in Fort Kent, a nursing home run by NMMC.

The home provides more than 4,200 patients with skilled nursing, long-term care services, rehabilitation services such as physical, occupational and speech therapy, and hospice and respite services.

The funding will allow Forest Hill to open up the basement as a meeting and event space for residents and the community.

The loan was announced this week by U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.