SNOWE, COLLINS ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $550,000 IN USDA FUNDING

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today announced that five regional economic development organizations in Maine will receive a total of $563,800 in federal funding to assist in hazardous waste reduction and technical assistance training. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded funding through the Grant Programs.

"This federal funding will assist in continuing Maine's environmental awareness and promoting economic development that is vital to job creation throughout the state," Snowe and Collins said in a joint statement.

The federal funding was awarded to the following recipients in Maine:

-- $196,000 was awarded to the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments

-- $86,000 was awarded to the Northern Maine Development Commission

-- $67,500 was awarded to the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments

-- $43,000 was awarded to the Hancock County Planning Commission

-- $40,500 was awarded to the Eastern Maine Development Corporation

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