SNOWE, COLLINS ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $1.7 MILLION TO HOUSING PROJECTS THROUGHOUT MAINE

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today announced $1,763,000 in federal funding to various housing programs throughout Maine. These federal grants will support housing preservation efforts, lead removal activities, and economic development in rural Maine.

"Investing in the rehabilitation and preservation of existing homes is vital to ensuring quality housing to all Mainers," Snowe and Collins said in a joint statement. "This federal funding will also assist in the ongoing efforts of the city of Portland to remove hazardous lead from local housing developments."

Funding awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development includes:

• $1,500,000 to the City of Portland, for ongoing lead hazard control efforts, screening, and case management in 80 housing units.

• $220,000 to the Pine Tree Legal Assistance group, under the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) which provides public and private entities with funding to end discriminatory housing practices.

Funding awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Program includes:

• $23,000 to Community Concepts Inc., to rehabilitate and preserve housing in Androscoggin and Oxford Counties.

• $20,000 to Penquis CAP, Inc., to assist in rehabilitation of low income housing developments.

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