ROCKLAND — Mid-Coast Recovery Coalition, in Rockland, is one of four Maine communities that will receive a total of $200,000 for upgrades through the USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Programs.

MCRC will receive a Community Facilities Grant in the amount of $50,000. This Rural Development investment will be used to enable Mid-Coast Recovery Coalition to upgrade the 'Friends House' so that it is ADA compliant, meets local codes, and provides the organization and residents the space and resources necessary to successfully help individuals and families affected by opioid addiction.

The 'Friends House' will accommodate upwards of 15 men in recovery needing a safe, sober, and supportive place to live, according to the USDA, in a news release. The House will provide a healing environment in which the men will spend time together for support, while establishing employment and connections to other local resources in the community that assist their recovery.

Mid-Coast Recovery Coalition (MCRC) was established in 2016 as a small 501c(3) nonprofit organization to reduce the rate of drug addiction in the Midcoast community and to help heal all of those affected. The proposed project is in an Agency identified target area.

Rural Development staff have been working within the City over the past few years to extend MCRC services and programs to help the community enhance their mission.

This Rural Development investment will be used to enable us to upgrade the Friends House so that it is ADA compliant, meets local codes, and will provide the organization and residents with a safe, comfortable space which is necessary for supporting individuals and families fighting opioid addiction.

The Friends House will accommodate upwards of 15 men in recovery needing a safe, sober, and supportive place to live. The House already provides a healing environment in which the residents spend time together for support, while establishing employment and connections to other local resources in the community that assist their recoveries. Now, the Friends House will be even safer and a more effective place for those committed to recovery from addiction.

“It is critical for people in early recovery to have a solid foundation to begin their recovery. Without providing safe, sober and supportive housing, most people cannot make progress in their recovery and continue to struggle with complications of their addiction We are so thankful to the USDA for helping us to provide a safe and home-like environment at the Friends House.” said Iain Kirkham, House Supervisor of the Friends House, in a news release.

Also receiving grants are:

Pine Tree State 4-H Club Foundation, in Orono, will receive a total of $50,000 (Community Facilities Grant in the amount of $42,200 and Rural Economic Impact Initiative Grant in the amount of $7,800.) This Rural Development investment will be used to complete necessary rehabilitation of all the facilities located at the Greenland Point Learning Center, in Princeton. Repairs will include roofing, flooring, interior wall repair and painting/staining of the exterior facilities.

Pine Tree State 4-H Club Foundation is a non-profit agricultural education program stationed in Orono, Maine. The Maine 4-H Foundation cultivates, promotes, and secures financial resources to support the 4-H Youth Development program statewide. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension oversees the 4-H Youth Development program as part of the National Land Grant University system. The foundation was founded in 1961 as a 501(c)3 Charitable Foundation dedicated to supporting the initiatives of the University of Maine Extension 4-H programs including three existing 4-H Camp and Learning Centers. Collectively these Centers serve nearly 10,000 youth annually and have developed nonprofit business models that are financially solvent.

Indian Township Passamaquoddy Reservation, in Princeton, will receive a Community Facilities Grant in the amount of $50,000. This Rural Development investment will be used to construct a 1,200 square foot wood frame single story public works wastewater garage. Currently the Tribe does not have a facility to store and maintain their sewer pump truck and related equipment.

A heated facility is needed to house the sewer pump truck so that it is readily available year-round to pump backed up septic tanks, lift stations and grinder stations on the reservation. Heated storage is necessary during the winter months as the truck is needed for sewer backup emergencies. There are 14 lift stations, 60 grinder station and approximately 200 septic tanks to maintain on the reservation.

Millinocket Memorial Library, in Millinocket, will receive a Community Facilities Grant in the amount of $50,000. This Rural Development investment will be used to build a 500 square foot four-season porch to the north end of the facility. This work will add safety, functionality, and program capacity to the library. The north porch will be used for programming space, meeting space, and will provide much-needed egress to the north end of the building. Finally, it will allow the decommissioning of the old entrance that is currently still utilized as a mandatory egress. The addition will have a sprinkler system, windows, doors, stairs, and be made of concrete, wood beams, and standard construction material.

This renovation brought the library up to code and ADA compliant. The facility has four conference rooms for individuals and organizations to use, 10 public access computers, a collection of 10,000 books, a teen room, a children's imagination station and storage and workspace for paid staff and volunteers. The building has new heat pumps, wood pellet boiler, and has a sprinkler system. The facility is open to the public 38 hours per week. Most common services include computer and internet access, children's programs, movies and games, employment services, and lending of books, bikes, canoes, and skis for free.

More than 100 types of projects are eligible for Community Facilities funding. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public bodies, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribes. Projects must be in rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less.

Interested entities should contact Robert Nadeau, Community Programs Director at (207) 990-9121 or robert.nadeau@usda.gov for information about additional funding, application procedures and eligibility details. Also see the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program Guidance Book for Applicants (PDF, 669 KB), a detailed overview of the application process.

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/me.