Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $29,875,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for Maine fire stations and public safety facilities in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
“There is an enormous need to update fire stations throughout the State of Maine to ensure both the safety of our brave first responders and communities,” said Senator Collins. “This funding would help to improve public safety efforts and emergency response services throughout Maine. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY 2026 THUD Appropriations bill—an important step that now allows the bill to be considered by the full Senate.
Funding advanced by Senator Collins for Maine fire stations and public safety facilities in the FY 2026 THUD Appropriations bill is as follows:
Brownville Fire Station
Recipient: Town of Brownville
Project Location: Brownville, ME
Amount Requested: $2,770,000
Project Purpose: To renovate the fire station.
Dixmont Fire and Rescue Station
Recipient: Town of Dixmont
Project Location: Dixmont, ME
Amount Requested: $2,332,000
Project Purpose: To construct a fire and rescue station.
Eagle Lake Fire Department Substation
Recipient: Town of Eagle Lake
Project Location: Eagle Lake, ME
Amount Requested: $150,000
Project Purpose: To support the construction of the Town of Eagle Lake’s Fire Department substation.
Easton Fire Station
Recipient: Town of Easton
Project Location: Easton, ME
Amount Requested: $3,600,000
Project Purpose: To construct a fire station.
Island Falls Fire and Ambulance Department
Recipient: Town of Island Falls
Project Location: Island Falls, ME
Amount Requested: $1,603,000
Project Purpose: To expand the fire and ambulance department.
Kenduskeag Fire Station
Recipient: Kenduskeag Fire Department
Project Location: Kenduskeag, ME
Amount Requested: $3,500,000
Project Purpose: To construct a fire station.
Monson Fire Station
Recipient: Town of Monson
Project Location: Monson, ME
Amount Requested: $3,000,000
Project Purpose: To construct a new fire station.
North Berwick Fire and Rescue Station
Recipient: Town of North Berwick
Project Location: North Berwick, ME
Amount Requested: $3,400,000
Project Purpose: To construct a fire and rescue station.
Sanford Public Safety Facilities
Recipient: City of Sanford
Project Location: Sanford, ME
Amount Requested: $5,000,000
Project Purpose: To construct public safety facilities.
Stacyville Fire Station
Recipient: Stacyville Fire Department
Project Location: Stacyville, ME
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Project Purpose: To construct a new fire station.
Wesley Volunteer Fire Station
Recipient: Wesley Volunteer Fire Department
Project Location: Wesley, ME
Amount Requested: $2,520,000
Project Purpose: To construct a fire station.
Earlier this month, Senator Collins advanced more than $12 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for Maine fire stations and emergency services in the FY 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bill.
In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $1 billion for hundreds of Maine projects for FY 2022, FY 2023, and FY 2024. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.
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