Senator Collins Receives First-Ever Congressional Partnership Award for Building Stronger Communities

Click HERE and HERE for photos of Senator Collins at the award ceremony

Washington, D.C. – The Council of State Community Development Agencies (COSCDA)—a national association that brings together state leaders on housing, homelessness, local economic development, and disaster recovery—recognized Senator Collins with their first-ever Congressional Partnership Award.  

 Senator Collins received this inaugural award for her longstanding support of federal housing and community development programs.  She was also recognized for her efforts to authorize the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, which helps towns, cities, counties, and states rebuild following a declared disaster. 

 The award was presented by COSCDA’s President Deborah Johnson, who also serves as the Director of Community Development with the Maine Department of Economic & Community Development. 

 “I am honored to receive this recognition and proud to be a partner with state community development leaders throughout the country,” Senator Collins said. “The progress we are making on developing affordable housing and reducing homelessness for our most vulnerable is the result of the hard work and passion of countless advocates and practitioners engaged in community development.  I look forward to continuing to advance this important work as the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee.”

 “Senator Collins is a fierce advocate of housing and community development especially for rural America,” said Deborah Johnson, COSCDA President and Director of Maine’s Office of Community Development. “We recognize her deep commitment to addressing critical challenges in Maine and across the country. COSCDA welcomes her leadership in advancing HUD Community Planning and Development programs for greater impact and benefit to populations in need.”

 Senator Collins is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.  She previously served as the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee.

 Created in 1974, COSCDA promotes the common interests and goals of state community and economic development agencies, with major emphasis on community development, housing, homelessness, local economic development, disaster recovery and state-local relations. 

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