$5 Million for East Millinocket Revitalization Advanced by Senator Collins in Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $5,000,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending to revitalize the Town of East Millinocket in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
“The Town of East Millinocket is rich in history and community. This is in large part due to the Great Northern Paper Company mill, which was a key source of revenue before its closure,” said Senator Collins. “This funding would support the continued redevelopment of the former Great Northern Paper Mill site, helping to restore economic opportunities in the region. As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
"This investment is another important step in East Millinocket’s efforts to revitalize the region’s economy by upgrading the facilities and infrastructure businesses will need to expand and locate on the former Great Northern mill site. Our redevelopment efforts depend upon the strong support of Maine’s Senators, especially Senator Collins' leadership on the Appropriation Committee, which is critically important for the State of Maine,” said Former U.S. Representative and Chairman of East Millinocket Board of Selectmen Michael Michaud.
This funding would continue the redevelopment of the former Great Northern mill site by stabilizing and rehabilitating existing structures — adding strategic infrastructure for priority projects and continuing site clean-up for redevelopment and construction of new facilities.
This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY24 THUD appropriations bill—an important step that now allows the bill to be considered by the full Senate. Committee consideration of legislation is a key part of regular order, which helps our government function efficiently and deliver results for the people of Maine and America.
In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $500 million for hundreds of Maine projects for FY2022 and FY2023. As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.
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