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Congress Approves More Than $28 Million for Maine Community and Economic Development Projects Secured by Senator Collins

The funding now heads to the President to be signed into law

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the SenateAppropriations Committee, announced that she secured $28,398,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for requests to support community and economic development throughout Maine in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill.   The bill, which was included in legislation that passed the Senate today, now heads to the President to be signed into law.

“This important funding will support the revitalization of infrastructure and community assets across the State of Maine, helping to spur economic development and job creation,” said Senator Collins.  “As Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I worked hard to secure this funding that will provide a valuable economic boost to communities throughout the state.”

Funding secured by Senator Collins for Maine community and economic development projects in the FY 2024 THUD appropriations bill is as follows:       

Simard Payne Park Improvements

Recipient: City of Lewiston 

Project Location: Lewiston, ME  

Amount Requested: $3,900,000 

Project Purpose: To revitalize Simard Payne Park to better connect it to the riverfront and community, which aligns with Lewiston’s Riverfront Island Master Plan. 

 

Madawaska Downtown Development

Recipient: Town of Madawaska 

Project Location: Madawaska, ME  

Amount Requested: $2,012,000 

Project Purpose: To renovate and revitalize the former downtown business plaza in Madawaska. 

 

Mars Hill Area Community and Economic Development Initiative

Recipient: Big Rock Mountain  

Project Location: Mars Hill, ME   

Amount Requested: $1,150,000  

Project Purpose: To support economic development in the Mars Hill region through infrastructure improvements at Big Rock Mountain. 

 

Norway Downtown Economic Development and Revitalization

Recipient: Norway Downtown Revitalization 

Project Location: Norway, ME  

Amount Requested: $1,788,000 

Project Purpose: To renovate a 19th-century historic building to support economic development. 

 

Rumford Area Community and Economic Development Initiative

Recipient: Black Mountain of Maine 

Project Location: Rumford, ME  

Amount Requested: $775,000 

Project Purpose: To promote economic development in Rumford through infrastructure improvements at Black Mountain of Maine. 

 

Riverwalk Expansion

Recipient: City of Auburn 

Project Location: Auburn, ME  

Amount Requested: $3,900,000 

Project Purpose: To extend the existing Auburn Riverwalk and link it to other local trails. 

 

Skowhegan Community Center Complex

Recipient: Town of Skowhegan

Project Location: Skowhegan, ME

Amount Requested: $3,000,000

Project Purpose: To construct a multi-use facility for economic and community development. 

 

Snow Pond Center Infrastructure Upgrade

Recipient: Snow Pond Center for the Arts

Project Location: Sidney, ME

Amount Requested: $448,000

Project Purpose: To renovate the Snow Pond Center for the Arts.

 

Lincoln Technology Park

Recipient: Town of Lincoln

Project Location: Lincoln, ME

Amount Requested: $3,500,000

Project Purpose: To make infrastructure improvements to Lincoln Technology Park.

 

Old Town Energy and Enterprise Park

Recipient: City of Old Town

Project Location: Old Town, ME

Amount Requested: $3,891,000

Project Purpose: To support construction of the Black Bear Parkway, including roads, water, sewer, electricity, and high-speed fiber, into city-owned land to develop an industrial park.

 

Maine Trail Center

Recipient: Maine Appalachian Trail Club

Project Location: Skowhegan, ME

Amount Requested: $475,000

Project Purpose: To construct a facility to support maintenance of Maine’s 267-mile portion of the Appalachian Trail.

 

Portland Museum of Art Cultural Center

Recipient: Portland Museum of Art

Project Location: Portland, ME 

Amount Requested: $2,000,000

Project Purpose: To construct a community cultural center.

 

Conservatory and Discovery Center

Recipient: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Project Location: Boothbay, ME

Amount Requested: $1,559,000

Project Purpose: To support the expansion of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens' Conservatory and Discovery Center.

 

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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