WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King announced that 29 Maine organizations will receive a total of $20,588,173 to support important development projects. The funding comes from the Northern Border Regional Commission’s (NBRC) Fiscal Year 2025 Catalyst Program and Timber for Transit Program and will support projects aimed at strengthening economic opportunity in communities across 13 Maine counties.

“The NBRC has long helped provide rural regions with the economic tools they need to prosper,” said Senators Collins and King. “This funding will help improve water infrastructure and roadways in communities across our state while strengthening our workforce and creating economic opportunities for Mainers.”

The recipients of the Catalyst Program funding are as follows:

1. Boothbay Region Water District - $1,000,000
2. City of Gardiner - $1,000,000
3. Mount Desert Island Hospital - $1,000,000
4. Presque Isle Utilities District - $1,000,000
5. Town of Waldoboro - $1,000,000
6. Regional Medical Center at Lubec - $800,000
7. Cherryfield Town Square - $500,000
8. Eastern Maine Development Corporation - $500,000
9. Friends of the Mountain - $500,000
10. Main Street Skowhegan - $500,000
11. Maine Department of Labor - $500,000
12. Maine Outdoor Brands - $500,000
13. Paris Utility District - $500,000
14. The Harry E. Davis Partnership for Children's Oral Health - $499,613
15. Associated General Contractors of Maine - $497,961
16. Town of Thomaston - $497,640
17. Maine Community College System - $497,537
18. Town of Beals - $482,236
19. Arnold Trail Snowmobile Network - $403,409
20. GrowSmart Maine - $388,700
21. Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce - $303,150
22. Midcoast Council of Governments - $300,000
23. Bangor Children's Home d.b.a. Hilltop School - $227,735
24. Island Institute - $181,712
25. Town of North Haven - $100,000

The recipients of the Timber for Transit Program funding are as follows:

1. Town of Island Falls - $2,808,000
2. City of Presque Isle - $2,500,000
3. University of Maine, Orono Campus - $1,000,000
4. Inland Woods and Trails - $600,480

A detailed description of all funded projects can be read here.

The NBRC was established by Congress in 2008, with Senator Collins’ and King’s support, to fund a broad range of development projects in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York aimed at alleviating economic distress and encouraging private sector job creation. In 2023, Senator Collins introduced and Senator King co-sponsored a bill to reauthorize and strengthen the NBRC.

###