Nearly $2.25 Million for Maine Historic Rehabilitation Projects 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 $2,243,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for historic rehabilitation projects throughout Maine in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
“Communities throughout Maine do all that they can to honor and preserve historic buildings that play a key role in enriching the lives of residents and supporting local economies,” said Senator Collins. “This funding will help to ensure that Maine’s rich history can be enjoyed for generations to come. 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 historic rehabilitation projects Senator Collins requested through the FY24 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Development appropriations bill are below:
Thomas A. Hill House Rehabilitation
Recipient: Bangor Historical Society
Project Location: Bangor, ME
Amount Requested: $100,000
Project Purpose: To rehabilitate portions of the Thomas A. Hill House, a nearly 200-year-old building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Abbe Museum Rehabilitation
Recipient: Abbe Museum
Project Location: Bar Harbor, ME
Amount Requested: $500,000
Project Purpose: To rehabilitate the Abbe Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate located within Acadia National Park, dedicated to exploring the history and cultures of Maine’s Native people.
Masonic Hall Rehabilitation
Recipient: Quoddy Tides Foundation d/b/a Tides Institute & Museum of Art
Project Location: Eastport, ME
Amount Requested: $500,000
Project Purpose: To rehabilitate and preserve the exterior of Masonic Hall, a more than 135-year-old building in the downtown National Register Historic District.
Keen Hall Rehabilitation
Recipient: Freedom Community Historical Society
Project Location: Freedom, ME
Amount Requested: $327,000
Project Purpose: To rehabilitate Keen Hall, a 170-year-old building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Rehabilitation of the Steamboat Katahdin
Recipient: Moosehead Marine Museum
Project Location: Greenville, ME
Amount Requested: $500,000
Project Purpose: To rehabilitate the Steamboat Katahdin, a more than 100-year-old steamboat listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Readfield Union Meeting House Rehabilitation
Recipient: Readfield Union Meeting House Company
Project Location: Readfield, ME
Amount Requested: $316,000
Project Purpose: To rehabilitate the Readfield Union Meeting House, a nearly 200-year-old building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY24 Interior, Environment, 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 $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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