$750,000 for UMaine Machias Early College Student Support Center Advanced by Senator Collins in Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $750,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the University of Maine at Machias (UMaine Machias) in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Agriculture, Rural Development and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bill. The legislation, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
“UMaine Machias serves as a pipeline for many students in rural communities who aspire to further their education,” said Senator Collins. “This funding would help to strengthen UMaine Machias’ Early College programs, helping to reach additional high school students and make college more accessible for all. As the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
"Situated in the heart of the UMaine Machias campus, the Reynolds Center is already a central gathering space for area high school students, many of whom are also Early College students at UMaine Machias. This new renovation funding would provide a space in which these students can connect, study, and meet with staff, helping to pave their way to college careers at UMaine Machis and beyond," said Megan Walsh, Dean and Campus Director, UMaine Machias.
"UMaine is committed to providing a comprehensive education to Mainers, and that includes Early College students. By creating a dedicated student success hub on the Machias campus, we hope to improve the transition from high school to college for students in the Down East region. We are grateful to Senator Collins for advancing this funding request on behalf of our regional campus and know that this project will have a significant community impact for years to come," said Joan Ferrini-Mundy, President, University of Maine and UMaine Machias and Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, University of Maine System.
This funding would support upgrades to the Reynolds Center on campus to create a centralized space for Early College and high school students. The upgrades would provide Early College and high school students with a dedicated location on campus to complete their classwork, meet with instructors, and integrate with the UMaine Machias community.
This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY 2025 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 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 $1 billion for hundreds of Maine projects for FY 2022, FY 2023, and FY 2024. As the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.
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