Senators Collins, King Announce Funding to Support Environmental Finance Expertise and Outreach at the University of Southern Maine

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected the University of Southern Maine as one of eight universities to receive grant funding. This funding will support the University’s outreach efforts to help Maine communities identify solutions for financing environmental activities, including water infrastructure.

      “As communities across Maine work to meet environmental goals that benefit public health, the environment, and the economy, it is important that they have the support necessary to develop financial plans in order to reach these goals,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “This grant funding will support the University of Southern Maine in their continued work with local communities to ensure they have access to the tools needed to do just that.”

      This funding is part of the Environmental Financial Center Grant Program, which supports regional Environmental Finance Centers across the country. These Centers work directly with communities to address their specific environmental financing issues to provide training, technical assistance, and studies, to develop sustainable economic solutions and meet environmental standards and goals.

      According to the EPA, the exact amount of the award will be determined when the Fiscal Year 2016 budget is completed.