Senator Collins Secures Nearly $36 Million for Public Safety Facilities and Equipment in Funding Bill in First Key Step
Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured a total of $35,962,000
for public safety facilities and equipment in 27 Maine communities in the draft Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations bills. The bills, which were officially released by the full Senate Appropriations Committee today, must still be voted upon by the full Senate and House.
“Ensuring that Maine’s finest and bravest have modern facilities and equipment is essential to the delivery of efficient emergency services,” said Senator Collins. “This funding will replace aging public safety buildings and municipal complexes that are at risk of structural failure and not well suited to house modern equipment. In addition, it will allow communities to upgrade their equipment to better protect first responders and the public. I heard from local officials about how these projects will enhance the wellbeing of Mainers and improve the delivery of public safety services across the state. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to champion this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
Details on the 27 Maine projects Senator Collins secured are below:
Androscoggin County
Lisbon Street Fire Sub-Station
Recipient: City of Lewiston
Project Location: Lewiston, ME
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Purpose: To build a new fire sub-station on Lisbon Street in Lewiston, which will
improve the Fire Department's response time and effectiveness.
Sabattus Central Fire Station
Recipient: Sabattus Fire Department
Project Location: Sabattus, ME
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Project Purpose: To consolidate two fire stations into one at the town office complex. The current stations are old and too small for the needs of the department and its equipment.
Aroostook County
City of Caribou Police Station
Recipient: City of Caribou
Project Location: Caribou, ME
Amount Requested: $2,500,000
Project Purpose: For the construction of a police station for the City of Caribou, which will serve as a vital hub for law enforcement across Aroostook County.
Sly Brook Road Fire Station
Recipient: Eagle Lake
Project Location: Eagle Lake, ME
Amount Requested: $250,000
Project Purpose: To construct a fire station on Sly Brook Road in Eagle Lake and to purchase a fully equipped rescue boat to perform water rescues as needed. The new station will also be equipped to serve as an emergency shelter.
Fort Kent Police Department Facility Improvements
Recipient: Town of Fort Kent
Project Location: Fort Kent, ME
Amount Requested: $400,000
Project Purpose: To construct a facility to house the Fort Kent Police Department's fleet of police vehicles and improve public safety.
Van Buren Fire Station and Training Center
Recipient: Town of Van Buren
Project Location: Van Buren, ME
Amount Requested: $2,177,000
Project Purpose: To replace an old firehouse in Van Buren with a new facility that serves Van Buren and surrounding communities.
Cumberland County
Cumberland County Public Safety Communications Equipment Upgrade
Recipient: Cumberland County
Project Location: Cumberland County, Maine
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade and replace public safety communications equipment that is nearing the end of its life.
Hancock County
Dedham/Lucerne Fire Station Addition
Recipient: Town of Dedham
Project Location: Dedham, ME
Amount Requested: $250,000
Project Purpose: To build fire station barracks for full-time staff and student trainees from the Fire Science program at Eastern Maine Community College.
Hancock County Emergency Operations Center
Recipient: Hancock County Emergency Management Agency
Project Location: Ellsworth, ME
Amount Requested: $1,500,000
Project Purpose: To establish a new facility to house the Emergency Operations Center of the Hancock County Emergency Management Agency.
Kennebec County
Clinton Fire Rescue Station
Recipient: Town of Clinton
Project Location: Clinton, ME
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Project Purpose: To construct a new fire station for the Town of Clinton. The current station is not large enough to accommodate replacement equipment.
Oxford County
Norway Town Office Renovation and Expansion
Recipient: Town of Norway
Project Location: Norway, ME
Amount Requested: $850,000
Project Purpose: To renovate and expand the town office building with improvements for public safety services.
Penobscot County
Alton Fire Station Expansion
Recipient: Town of Alton
Project Location: Alton, ME
Amount Requested: $400,000
Project Purpose: To expand the town municipal building and fire station to provide more room for fire trucks and to improve the facilities used by firefighters.
Bradford Municipal Fire Station
Recipient: Town of Bradford
Project Location: Bradford, ME
Amount Requested: $1,387,000
Project Purpose: To construct a new fire station to replace the current 175-year old structure.
Milford Fire Department Expansion and Safety Renovations
Recipient: Milford Fire Department
Project Location: Milford, ME
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Purpose: To construct an addition to an existing fire station, which will increase staffing capacity and improve the safety of the structure.
Newburgh Fire and Rescue Station
Recipient: Town of Newburgh
Project Location: Newburgh, ME
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Purpose: To replace an old fire station that is in disrepair.
Plymouth Fire Station
Recipient Town of Plymouth
Project Location: Plymouth, ME
Amount Requested: $800,000
Project Purpose: To replace an old fire station that is in disrepair.
Piscataquis County
Greenville Public Safety Building
Recipient: Town of Greenville
Project Location: Greenville, ME
Amount Requested: $902,000
Project Purpose: To replace the growing town's fire department building with a new public safety building that will house both the fire and police departments while including a community room for public meetings.
Milo Public Safety Building
Recipient: Town of Milo
Project Location: Milo, ME
Amount Requested: $6,375,000
Project Purpose: To construct a new public safety building to house Milo's fire, police, and public works departments, which are currently housed in the l 00-year-old Milo Town Hall.
Somerset County
North Anson Fire Station
Recipient: Town of Anson
Project Location: Anson, ME
Amount Requested: $1,500,000
Project Purpose: To replace a 70-year-old fire station, which is structurally unsound.
Jackman Paramedic Garage
Recipient: Town of Jackman
Project Location: Jackman, ME
Amount Requested: $541,000
Project Purpose: To build a cooperative municipal facility that will house a paramedicine vehicle and ambulances for regional emergency services responses.
Waldo County
Belfast Public Safety Building Renovation
Recipient: City of Belfast
Project Location: Belfast, ME
Amount Requested: $1,500,000
Project Purpose: To construct a facility to house Belfast's Fire, Police, and Ambulance Departments at a single location.
Waldo County 911 Dispatch Center Equipment Upgrade
Recipient: Waldo County
Project Location: Belfast, Maine
Amount Requested: $165,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade electronic equipment and 911 dispatch consoles for Waldo County's 911 dispatch center.
Washington County
Washington County Public Safety Communications Equipment Upgrade
Recipient: Washington County Emergency Management Agency
Project Location: Washington County, Maine
Amount Requested: $3,178,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade and replace public safety communications equipment for
Washington County.
York County
EMS Training Simulators
Recipient: York County Fire & EMS Office
Project Location: Alfred, ME
Amount: $750,000
Purpose: To purchase simulators and training equipment for the York County Emergency Operations Center.
Equipment Purchases for Law Enforcement Community Outreach Program
Recipient: Town of Kittery
Project Location: Kittery, Maine
Amount Requested: $70,000
Project Purpose: To support equipment purchases for Kittery, Eliot, and York's Law
Enforcement Community Outreach Liaison Program, which helps reduce the need for
emergency calls related to mental health and substance abuse.
Limerick Fire Station
Recipient: Town of Limerick
Project Location: Limerick, ME
Amount Requested: $1,800,000
Project Purpose: To build a new fire station to serve Limerick and several smaller communities, including Cornish and Limington.
Saco Public Safety Communications Equipment Upgrade
Recipient: City of Saco
Project Location: Saco, Maine
Amount Requested: $667,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade and replace public safety communications equipment for the City of Saco.
