Man Offers $1K And Free Rent For A Year To Inspire Doctors To Set Up In Dexter, Maine

A Dexter businessman has challenged the community to help him hire a medical professional to set up a shop in one of his buildings. He's offering a $1,000 reward and a year's worth of free rent if someone comes to provide medical care for the community.

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Frank Spizuoco lives in Dexter and founded Maine Military about 30 years ago. He's also got a handful of other properties and businesses in the area.

Turns out, Spizuoco acquired two buildings at auction. One used to be an old doctor's office and hospital in Dexter, which he renovated and turned into a 9-unit apartment complex.

The other building, which sits next door and shares the parking lot with the residential unit, Spizuoco got from Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center when they left town. He said he got a great deal on it and is hoping to pass along the savings to someone who could come and invest some time and talent into the community.

"Healthcare is just a huge issue, especially for our elderly since Northern Light pulled out. We only have Hometown Healthcare, and they're not accepting anyone. They're maxed out in a little small facility. "

Spizuoco, who sits on the board of the Dexter Development Committee, and owns several other Maine-based businesses, says access to local healthcare is something the Dexter community desperately needs.

"So I just figured, I know that it's an extreme long shot, and I'm told that less than 5% of people who go into that field do Private Practice, so it's really a dying industry. They want to go work for large companies. So I figured I'd think outside the box and throw something out there. If I can put something out there, and pass on the good deal that I got, I can help somebody get started and help offset their cost to get going with cheap rent."

Spizuoco says that right now, folks have to either go to Newport or Corinth for care, so there are not a lot of choices.

"And in the winter, there's not a lot of options for regular, non-emergency stuff. So it's hard for them. So that's why I'm putting it out there."

"Any kind of family practice. Maybe it could be a walk-in care. Maybe an existing company wants to expand. It could be somebody brand new that doesn't have the money to get started. I could help them with their startup costs by giving them free rent."

"It's big, it's 4,800 square feet...the bottom level could be residential. The top level could be the practice."

Anyone interested, or who might have a lead on someone looking to start up their own practice, just has to reach out to Spizuoco via the number on his post, which you can find here.