Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden announced that the Maine Development Foundation (MDF) has received a total of $750,000 to revitalize and preserve historic downtowns throughout the State of Maine. This funding was awarded through the National Park Service’s (NPS) Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program. The Maine Delegation sent a letter of support to the NPS on MDF’s behalf.

“The Maine Development Foundation serves as a critical resource for the State of Maine, making investments to help increase job growth and boost local economies,” the Maine Delegation said in a joint statement.  “We welcome this investment, which will enable the preservation of historic properties, spur economic growth, and safeguard Maine’s unique sense of place.”

This funding will be used for historic revitalization, preservation, and other upgrades that support economic development activities throughout Maine.  The funding will also provide important financial capacity and resources to help encourage infrastructure development and private sector investment that in turn will increase the value and use of historically significant properties.

Established in 1978, MDF is a private, nonpartisan member organization that provides leadership development, trusted research, and creative partnerships to enable Maine business, community, and government leaders to drive Maine’s long-term economic growth. Over the past 20 years, MDF has led important efforts addressing the needs of Maine’s historic downtowns through its Maine Downtown Center (MDC) program, which was established by the Maine Legislature in 1999 to advance preservation-based economic development.