Funding would support public safety and public works buildings in Corinna, Machiasport, Cutler, Rumford, and Washburn and a community center in Harrison
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, announced today that she successfully secured all six of the Congressionally Directed Spending requests that she submitted for the Fiscal Year 2022 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Bill and the Fiscal Year 2022 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill. The bills were passed by the Appropriations Committee today and advanced to the full Senate for consideration.
During the Appropriations process, Senator Collins submitted a total of 110 Congressionally Directed Spending requests amounting to more than $286 million across nine Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations bills. The funding will support projects by Maine’s state government, municipalities, and non-profits that will promote job creation and economic development, improve infrastructure, expand community resources for Mainers, and protect our environment. The text of the remaining Appropriations bills will be released over the next several weeks.
“As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I have long championed investments that benefit Maine’s communities and families,” said Senator Collins. “I heard from local officials about how these six projects will enhance the wellbeing of Mainers and improve the delivery of town services across five counties. Five of the projects will replace aging public safety buildings and municipal complexes that are at risk of structural failure and not well suited to house modern equipment, while the sixth project will provide an improved food bank and community gathering space in Harrison. I will work hard to champion these projects as the Appropriations process moves forward in order to benefit our state and the people of Maine.”
Details on the six Maine projects Senator Collins requested in the first two appropriations bill are below:
Corinna Fire Department Fire Station
Amount: $1,725,000
Purpose: To relocate the Fire Department to a larger, town-owned building that is better suited to meet the town and surrounding communities’ emergency and safety needs. The current building is small, crowded, and in need of repair. The Fire Department serves the towns of Corinna and Exeter, which are two rural communities, and has mutual aid agreements with six surrounding towns.
Harrison Food Bank & Community Center
Amount: $387,932
Purpose: To complete the renovation of the Harrison Food Bank and Community Center. This is the largest food bank in the State of Maine, serving 500 low-income families from 92 towns per week. With the support of this investment, the Center will facilitate classes, public meetings, dinners, and veterans’ services. The space may also be suitable as a shelter for the town of Harrison in emergency situations.
Town of Machiasport Public Works Project
Amount: $1,125,000
Purpose: To replace a public works facility in Machiasport, to store and maintain critical town public works equipment. The new site will be located close to the Municipal Complex, which will improve collaboration with other town services.
Naval Support Activity Cutler Firehouse
Amount: $2,500,000
Project Purpose: To provide initial planning and design funding for the Navy to begin planning for a replacement fire house at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Cutler. The current fire station is approximately 70 years old and is having difficulty meeting its mission requirements in its current condition and location, which is over 20 minutes away from the transmitter site. The federal fire department also provides mutual aid to local communities – the nearest on-call department is 53 miles away and the nearest full-time department is 75 miles away. The Navy has assessed that the cost to replace the station would be less than renovating and adding to the existing station over a 25-year period.
Rumford Fire Station Recipient
Amount: $1,000,000
Purpose: To support the building of a new Fire Station to replace the Central Fire Station built in 1923, which is structurally compromised and at increasing risk of total collapse. The current facility does not allow for modern equipment to fit inside and has significant damage to the concrete floor, foundation, and load-bearing walls.
Washburn Public Safety Building
Amount: $750,000
Purpose: To support construction of a new Public Safety building to house the Fire and Police Departments in the Town of Washburn. The current building is more than 100 years old and is inadequate to house critical town safety equipment. The current Police Department consists of three full-time officers sharing one small office in the building, which also houses the Town Office and is not adequate for any of these uses.
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