COLLINS ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR DEFENSE PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT MAINE COMPANIES

Washington, D.C. - Senator Susan Collins today announced additional funding that was included in the FY 2005 Defense Appropriations Bill, some of which will be used for projects that will be done in Maine. The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the funding.

In addition to the $107 million that Senator Collins announced yesterday, Maine companies will benefit from the following:

· $1 million for Vicus Technologies of Kennebunk for Low Cost Avionics.

· $3 million for Applied Thermal Sciences of Sanford for a Small Watercraft Propulsion Demonstrator

· $3 million for Hodgdon Yachts in East Boothbay for a Mark V Patrol Boat Replacement Craft Prototype.

· An additional $5 million for the University of Maine to perform Advanced Structures and Composites in Construction research. This brings the total funding for this project to $10 million.

The Defense Appropriations Bill must now be considered by the full Senate.

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