Nearly $11 Million for Maine Community Centers 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 $10,877,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for community centers throughout Maine 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.
“From health and wellness to workforce development, community centers provide important services throughout Maine,” said Senator Collins. “This funding would support the construction or rehabilitation of community buildings across the State. As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
Details on the Maine community center projects Senator Collins advanced through the FY24 THUD appropriations bill are below:
Housing and Social Services Resource Hub
Recipient: Fair Tide
Project Location: Kittery, ME
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Purpose: To create a consolidated hub for several social service agencies.
Wabanaki Community Connection Center
Recipient: Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness
Project Location: Bangor, ME
Amount Requested: $1,200,000
Project Purpose: To develop a multi-purpose Wabanaki Youth and Cultural Center.
Tree Street Youth Family and Community Center
Recipient: Tree Street Youth
Project Location: Lewiston, ME
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Purpose: To support the expansion of Tree Street Youth's services including, parenting support, health and wellness services, financial literacy training, and workforce development.
Trinity Jubilee Center Food, Shelter, and Jobs Center
Recipient: Trinity Jubilee Center
Project Location: Lewiston, ME
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Project Purpose: To construct a new facility to support the Trinity Jubilee Center’s services for underserved people in the Lewiston-Auburn area.
Center for Community Programs in Livermore Falls and Jay
Recipient: United Way of the Tri-Valley Area
Project Location: Livermore Falls, ME
Amount Requested: $1,677,000
Project Purpose: To make renovations that will allow this facility to continue to host childcare programs and other expanded services.
Joe's Place Teen Center and Shelter
Recipient: Preble Street
Project Location: Portland, ME
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Project Purpose: To support construction of a new facility that would consolidate Preble Street's daytime Teen Center and nighttime Teen Shelter into one building.
Central Maine Community Services Hub Renovation
Recipient: Woodfords Family Services
Project Location: Manchester, ME
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Project Purpose: To renovate a facility that supports programs servicing children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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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