U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that 19 Maine organizations will receive more than $16 million in federal funding to support economic development projects across the state.
The $16,201,188 funding comes through the Northern Border Regional Commission’s Fiscal Year 2026 Catalyst, Timber for Transit, and Forest Economy programs.
“The NBRC has been an important partner in helping Maine’s rural communities make investments in projects that strengthen local economies and improve quality of life,” Collins and King said in a joint statement. “This funding will support critical infrastructure upgrades, workforce development, housing, childcare, transportation access, and forest economy projects across our state. These investments will help communities address local needs, create jobs, and expand economic opportunity for Mainers.”
The funding will support a range of projects, including infrastructure improvements, workforce training, housing development, childcare access, transportation-related investments, and projects tied to Maine’s forest economy.
The bulk of the funding was awarded through the NBRC’s Catalyst Program, which provides support for locally driven economic and community development projects.
The Catalyst Program awards include:
Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry — $1,000,000
Town of Livermore Falls — $1,000,000
Tree Street Youth — $1,000,000
Workforce Housing Coalition Western Maine Mountains — $1,000,000
Brooksville Town House — $902,938
Ashland Water and Sewer District — $680,000
City of Calais — $590,580
Old Town Water District — $520,000
IBEW Augusta Electrical JATC — $497,560
Central Maine Growth Council — $485,000
Spruce Mountain Educational Fund — $368,000
Northern Maine Development Commission, Inc. — $360,210
Town of Albion — $100,000
City of Augusta — $80,000
Matinicus Isle Plantation — $70,400
Town of Vinalhaven — $46,500
Two Maine projects also received funding through the NBRC’s Timber for Transit Program.
The City of Rockland will receive $4,000,000, while Main Street Skowhegan will receive $2,500,000.
The Timber for Transit Program supports projects that make use of wood products in transportation-related infrastructure.
Southern Aroostook Development Corporation will also receive $1,000,000 through the NBRC’s Forest Economy Program.
That program is aimed at supporting economic development projects tied to the forest products industry, a long-standing part of Maine’s rural economy.
The Northern Border Regional Commission is a federal-state partnership that supports economic and community development in distressed counties across Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York.
All benefits and pocket padding for the friends of the elites I am sure.
Porta Potty Plattner would have brought ZERO .
Just more jokes and embarrassment .
Keep those printing presses going.
Tree Street Youth is t that in Lewiston they will probably hire Graham cracker to teach them proper shooting skills. Apparently tree street youth isn’t working out so well for the Lewiston youth! Unless you consider youths packing guns a good thing.
Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry — $1,000,000
That’s a joke for these guys to receive money to blow on overpriced out of state trade shows & booths all furnished with all the comforts of home away from home. All expenses paid through this chunk of change.
I thought Angus was trying to get us free bath mats .
What ever happened to THAT brilliant idea ?
I’ll bet Collins did most of the work and Angus wants most of the credit .
Buying votes with wasted taxpayer money
Let’s see, the US is 40 trillion dollars in debt but these two keep porking out on printed money. Doesn’t something have to give sooner or later?
19 Maine organizations divided by $16 million in federal funding equals payroll for 19 maine organizations. Plus 190 Million Federal $ divided into 16 Maine Counties equals…..El if I know. That would be a cross between an elephant and a rhino…..an “El if I know”…HA hA HA HA. BUT perhaps not so funny to the taxpayers. Print more, more inflation. Lower interest rates, more inflation. In the “what’s it worth crowd, they see 12 USD / gal gas. Maybe a 75 USD tommie hawk steak. 250 USD Herman survivors. So, will price be relative to the higher wages folks will be earning with all the community college and firefighting training? The voters will be the ultimate judge, if someone doesn’t start to ahsplain sum tings. Just sayin’