SNOWE & COLLINS ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $300,000 FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE FACILITY IN PRESQUE ISLE

Washington, DC – Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins today announced that the Central Aroostook Association for Retarded Citizens will receive a $328,440 federal loan to build a waiver home for two adults who are unable to care for themselves. The facility is expected to have the capacity to care for two additional people as well.

"This facility will allow adults with certain mental disabilities to live within and contribute to a community, while still getting the care and assistance they need," said the Senators in a joint statement.

The funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Community Facility Guaranteed Loan program. Under the program, the USDA makes and guarantees loans to develop essential community facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population. Loan funds may be used to construct, enlarge, or improve community facilities for health care, public safety, and public services. This can include costs to acquire land needed for a facility, pay necessary professional fees, and purchase equipment required for its operation.