SNOWE, COLLINS ANNOUNCE OVER $5 MILLION IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS FOR MAINE

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today announced that Maine has been awarded $5,442,000 in rural development grants and loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These funds were distributed through the water and waste disposal direct loan and grant program.

"We are pleased that the USDA recognizes the essential needs of these rural communities throughout the state of Maine," Snowe and Collins said in a joint statement. "This funding will allow these areas to make fundamental enhancements to the water systems that support the communities they serve."

The federal funding was allocated as follows: • $2,240,000 loan and a $750,000 grant to the Town of Bucksport to bring the Waste Water Treatment Facility, which currently poses a health hazard, up to Water Quality standards.

• $1,000,000 grant to the Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Reservation to rehabilitate 3 pump stations, replace pumps, and add backup generators.

• $575,000 loan to the Norridgewock Water District to relocating and upgrading the area's water main.

• $134,000 loan and a $400,000 grant to the Town of Frenchville to upgrade the town's failing sewer system.

• $204,000 loan and a $139,000 grant to the Town of Farmington to make sewer changes, including pump station upgrades.

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