Senator Collins in Piscataquis County to Discuss Economic Development, Health, and Safety Projects
Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for high-resolution photos
Greenville, ME—U.S. Senator Susan Collins made several stops in Piscataquis County today to speak with business and town leaders as well as community members about multiple economic development, health, and infrastructure projects that are being supported by funding she secured through her role on the Appropriations Committee. In January of 2023, Senator Collins will become the lead Republican on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which has jurisdiction over all discretionary spending for the federal government.
‘I always enjoy visiting beautiful downtown Greenville, one of the picturesque gateways to the countless recreational opportunities that the Moosehead Lake region has to offer,” said Senator Collins. “It was a pleasure to speak with local residents about the exciting initiatives that are taking place, and I am proud to support many of these efforts as a senior member of Senate Appropriations Committee. These projects to improve health care, child care, transportation, public safety, and environmental protection will make the Moosehead Lake region an even better place to live and visit.”
Senator Collins’ first stop was Charles A. Dean Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital with a service area that extends across the Moosehead Lake region to the Canadian border. Earlier this year, a ground-breaking ceremony was held to commence construction to replace the 100-year-old facility. Senator Collins spoke with the hospital leadership and employees about a variety of issues as well as initiatives being led by the hospital to improve the health of the community. In last year’s funding bill, she secured a more than $1 million grant for the hospital to establish a rural mobile mammography service for Piscataquis and Somerset counties. This program will help ensure that patients living in the region receive the quality preventive care and support they require for breast cancer, which is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among American women.
Next, Senator Collins met with Fire Chief Sawyer Murray and firefighters. On a tour of the Greenville Fire Station, Senator Collins was shown some of the shortcomings of the current building, such as a leaky roof, floor drains that back up and freeze in the winter, and a lack of storage. Senator Collins is working to secure a $902,000 grant to replace the facility with a new public safety building that will house the fire and police departments, which are both currently grappling with outdated spaces and code violations. The new building will also include a community room for public meetings.
Over a working lunch at the Stress Free Moose, Senator Collins joined business and community leaders to learn about current economic and community development projects that are occurring in the region, which attracts approximately 250,000 visitors each year. The Moosehead Lake Economic Development Corporation has supported these efforts by undertaking a number of projects to revitalize the downtown. Senator Collins told the attendees that she can continue to be a partner to economic and community development groups when she becomes the top Republican on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee next year.
Senator Collins had a separate meeting at the Greenville Town Hall, where she spoke with members of the Greenville Select Board, the Public Safety Building Committee, business and community leaders, and other local residents. They discussed the funding Senator Collins has championed for projects throughout the region and how it will benefit the community. Senator Collins is working to secure a nearly $1.6 million grant to expand child care options in Greenville, a more than $5.7 million grant to support the construction of a municipal sewer line in Big Moose Township, and a $16 million grant to rehabilitate Route 15 from Abbot to Greenville.
For her last stops of the day in Piscataquis County, Senator Collins visited two state-of-the-art facilities in Dover-Foxcroft: The Piscataquis County Ice Arena and the Jim Robinson Field House. The arena, a $5.5 million facility that was supported by the Libra Foundation, includes an 80’ by 200’ ice rink, locker rooms, a pro shop, 250 spectator seats, and a concession area. Foxcroft Academy manages the ice rink, but it is a resource for the entire community. The Field House opened in August on the Foxcroft Academy campus and hosts a multitude of indoor sports. It has over 2,500 solar panels on the roof, making it the largest rooftop solar installation in Maine.
