More Than $13 Million for Maine Community Colleges 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 $13,161,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for Maine’s Community Colleges in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
“Maine’s Community Colleges play an important role in shaping our future workforce,” said Senator Collins. “This funding would support much needed upgrades to classroom equipment, health care training facilities, and vocational training programs at Community Colleges throughout Maine. As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
“Senator Collins is targeting funds to meet some of the most critical training needs of the state,” said Maine Community College System President David Daigler. “If approved, these investments in Maine’s community colleges would dramatically increase our capacity for training health care workers with the most up-to-date equipment and invest in programs that prepare graduates for good paying jobs in plumbing and diesel hydraulics. We are grateful Senator Collins has carefully targeted funds for these and other important initiatives in Maine.”
Details on the Maine Community College projects Senator Collins requested through the FY24 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill are below:
EMCC Classroom Technology
Recipient: Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC)
Project Location: Bangor, ME
Amount Requested: $1,648,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade classroom instructional technology.
WCCC Advanced Technology and Simulation
Recipient: Washington County Community College (WCCC)
Project Location: Calais, ME
Amount Requested: $1,629,000
Project Purpose: To purchase high-tech equipment for labs and classrooms.
NMCC Technology Upgrades
Recipient: Northern Maine Community College (NMCC)
Project Location: Presque Isle, ME
Amount Requested: $550,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade communications equipment on NMCC’s campus.
CMCC Health Care Training Expansion
Recipient: Central Maine Community College (CMCC)
Project Location: Auburn, ME
Amount Requested: $3,325,000
Project Purpose: For facilities and equipment to expand CMCC’s health care training programs.
KVCC Enhanced Radiology Simulation Lab
Recipient: Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC)
Project Location: Fairfield, ME
Amount Requested: $513,000
Project Purpose: For facilities and equipment to train health care workers.
SMCC Health Care Careers Simulation Center
Recipient: Southern Maine Community College (SMCC)
Project Location: South Portland, ME
Amount Requested: $4,100,000
Project Purpose: For facilities and equipment to support health care workforce training.
YCCC Creating a 21st Century Workforce Facility
Recipient: York County Community College (YCCC)
Project Location: Wells and Sanford, ME
Amount Requested: $986,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade laboratory equipment to expand workforce training.
Diesel Hydraulic Program Expansion
Recipient: Northern Maine Community College
Project Location: Presque Isle, ME
Amount Requested: $410,000
Project Purpose: To purchase equipment for a vocational training program.
This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY24 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education 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.
This funding also builds on the $803,000 Senator Collins advanced for the KVCC plumbing training facility through the FY24 Agriculture and Rural Development appropriations bill and the $500,000 Senator Collins advanced for SMCC to construct a facility for the Maine Fire Service Institute through the FY24 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill.
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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