SENATORS SNOWE, COLLINS ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $91,000 AWARDED TO NORTHERN MAINE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded the Northern Maine Development Commission a grant in the amount of $91,428.57.  The Commission will leverage $95,000 in outside funds to repair and/or rehabilitate 30 housing units in Aroostook County.               “The USDA Rural Development Housing Preservation Grant Program provides critical funds to organizations working in rural areas to improve housing conditions for disadvantaged residents,” said Senators Snowe and Collins in a joint statement.  “We applaud the Northern Maine Development Commission for the work that it does to help build a healthy and diverse economy for all the people of Aroostook County.”               The USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and to improve the quality of life in rural communities.  Rural Development has invested over $63 billion since 2001 to provide equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure.  Over 1.1 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments.   ###