WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced several grants and loans totaling $3,965,590 have been awarded to Maine by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development Project.

“Loans and grants provided by the USDA are critical to providing many services in rural communities that might otherwise have been unaffordable,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. “This funding will make it possible to improve local water and sewer infrastructure, encourage energy efficiency, and purchase and build new facilities throughout Maine.”

The awards and recipients are as follows:

• The Crisis and Counseling Center, Inc. in Augusta was awarded a $1,040,000 loan to purchase a currently leased facility that will enable it to offer more efficient services to the state by providing a more permanent location and a dependable expense.

• The Livermore Falls Water District was awarded a $500,000 loan to replace water mains along Route 4 from Livermore Falls into Jay that will improve the available flow of water for fire suppression, aide in reducing system pressure fluctuations during heavy usage, and replace a section of main break that has reached the end of its useful life.

• The Town of Brownville was awarded a $30,000 grant to complete a feasibility study that will provide an analysis of the town’s existing wastewater treatment system, treatment requirements and needs, cost analysis and treatment option in order to prepare it to meet the community’s wastewater treatment needs in the future.

• The Indian Township Passamaquoddy Reservation was awarded a $30,655 grant to replace the 28 year-old windows and exterior doors of the Tribal Administrative Building that serves as the center for all tribal functions and services, tribal events, and meeting space.

• The Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Reservation was awarded a $583,500 grant to replace existing sewer lines and a pump station that will improve the collection system and reduce infiltration and inflow, providing environmental benefits and improved tribal sewer services.

• The Town of Farmingdale was awarded a $300,000 loan and a $200,000 grant to improve the efficiency and capacity of the town’s sewer system by replacing five pump stations, replacing slide rail assemblies with explosion proof assemblies, replacing existing discharge piping and valves within the wet well structure, and replacing the aluminum hatch lifting pistons and latching assemblies.

• The Jay Village Water District was awarded a $680,000 loan and a $530,000 grant to replace existing water mains in order to improve the availability of water flow rates for fire suppression and system reliability.

• The Indian Township Passamaquoddy Reservation was awarded a $37,600 grant to construct a storage shed for the sand and salt that is used to maintain road safety during winter months and protect environmental resources located around the existing sand and salt pile. The sand and salt pile is not currently covered and salt is leaching to the surrounding area, creating the potential for environmental problems if the issue is not corrected.

• Aroostook Dental Clinic, Inc. was awarded a $17,535 grant to purchase a new dental/operatory chair, computer server, and phone system for the dental clinic.

• The Bingham Union Library was awarded a $16,300 grant for energy and accessibility improvements, including a new heating system, insulation, and handicapped parking.

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