Officials of Norway Savings Bank and Auburn City leaders announced the Bank’s ten-year commitment for naming rights of the dual sheet ice arena now under construction on Turner Street in Auburn. The facility will be named the Norway Savings Bank Arena. Earlier this year, Norway Savings Bank opened an Auburn branch at 31 Court Street, now called The Norway Savings Bank Plaza.

“Today we are pleased to announce that we are underscoring our commitment to the city of Auburn in a very important way. Our sponsorship of this new ice arena is a perfect fit with our dedication to wellness and the communities we serve,” stated Patricia Weigel, President of Norway Savings Bank. “Since opening our Auburn branch last spring, we’ve been looking for a way to let the people of Auburn and Lewiston know that we appreciate the warm welcome we’ve received and that we plan to be here for many years, not only as a business, but as a member of your community. The cities of Auburn and Lewiston have been so very welcoming, and our support of this new arena is our way of saying thank you.”

Attending the news conference were Auburn City Councilors, project developers and contractors, project supporters, representatives from area Youth Hockey Leagues, Adult Leagues and others who will utilize the Norway Savings Bank Ice Arena, including several high school teams who will call the new arena home. The teams from Edward Little High School, St. Dominic Academy, Leavitt Area H.S., Poland/Gray New-Gloucester and the Red Hornets will all call Norway Savings Bank Arena their home ice.

Ben Steele and Branden Dyer from the Edward Little High School hockey team and Taylor Landry of the Red Hornets spoke on behalf of those who will benefit from the new ice arena and thanked Norway Savings Bank for helping to make the dream of a brand new dual surface arena a reality.

In making the announcement, Auburn Mayor Jonathan LaBonte said, “Norway Savings Bank Arena, as the only dual surface facility in the State of Maine, represents the commitment of this city to leverage opportunities for young people to play hockey into economic opportunity for an entire community. For Norway Savings Bank to see this vision, embrace it and join with us in such a way demonstrates leadership and a clear, long-term commitment to Lewiston-Auburn.”

Josh MacDonald, Ice Arena General Manager provided an update regarding the status of the construction project. The Norway Savings Bank Arena is scheduled to open one sheet of ice in early November. The second sheet will be open in December when the facility will be fully operational. A grand opening will be held in early 2014.

About Norway Savings Bank

Founded in 1866, Norway Savings Bank is a leading mutual banking and financial services company headquartered in Norway, Maine. As of June 30, 2013, Norway Savings Bank had $984 million in total assets and provided financial services to over 38 thousand households throughout western and southern Maine. Norway Savings Bank has 22 branch locations and operates divisions in asset management, personal banking and business banking. In December 2012, BauerFinancial, Inc., the nation’s leading bank rating and research firm, honored Norway Savings Bank with its highest 5-Star rating for the last 92 consecutive quarters. In 2007 and 2008, Norway Savings Bank was recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Maine by the Society for Human Resource Management’s Maine State Council. Norway earned the Financial Marketing Excellence Award from the American Bankers Association for its “Colorful Solutions” brand campaign in 2009. In 2011, Norway Savings Bank was recognized with the Gold-Level Well Workplace Award by the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA). This award distinguishes Norway Savings Bank as one of the healthiest companies in America. Most recently, Norway was awarded the 2013 Governor’s Award for Business Excellence. For more information, visit www.norwaysavingsbank.com.