"The funding assistance provided by the USDA is critical to small communities in Maine since they often lack the resources to pursue community development programs on their own," Senators Snowe and Collins said in a joint statement. "These funds will ensure that Fort Kent and Berwick have the ability to provide expanded facilities for their communities." . Funding for the Elderly Social Action Council in Fort Kent will be used for landscaping and paving a driveway in the senior citizens' center. The unpaved parking lot was a health hazard for the senior citizens as the uneven ground made it easy for them to lose their balance. The loan awarded to the Berwick Library Association will be used to renovate the interior for the completion of the new library. This facility will include a community meeting area, children's area for story time and activities, and the needed space for the expansion of the library.
The USDA Rural Development mission provides guaranteed loans, approved loans, and approved grants. Rural Development is committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. The loans and grants are used for community programs, which seek to construct or improve community facilities for health care, public safety, and public services.
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