The Towns of Northport and Searsmont are among seven municipalities appointed to share $7,528,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for community and municipal facilities throughout Maine in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee on July 11, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House, according to the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, in a news release. 

“Community and municipal facilities house important services for towns throughout Maine,” said Senator Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This funding would support upgrades and renovations to facilities that provide everything from food pantries and emergency shelters to town offices and community meeting spaces. As the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.” 

This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY 2025 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bill—an important step that now allows the bill to be considered by the full Senate. Committee consideration of legislation is a key part of regular order, which helps our government function efficiently and deliver results for the people of Maine and America.    

Funding advanced by Senator Collins is as follows:          

Northport Community Center and Town Office 

Recipient: Town of Northport   

Project Location: Northport, ME  

Amount Requested: $2,325,000   

Project Purpose: To construct a consolidated facility to house the town office and community center, which would also serve as an emergency shelter.  

Searsmont Storage Upgrades

Recipient: Town of Searsmont   

Project Location: Searsmont, ME  

Amount Requested: $950,000   

Project Purpose: To construct a salt and sand storage facility. 

Buckfield Municipal Center  

Recipient: Town of Buckfield  

Project Location: Buckfield, ME  

Amount Requested: $270,000  

Project Purpose: To update the Town of Buckfield Municipal Center.   

Heart of Maine Resource Center Renovations  

Recipient: Heart of Maine Resource Center   

Project Location: Dexter, ME   

Amount Requested: $1,049,000   

Project Purpose: To renovate a facility to house a food distribution center and community meeting spaces.  

Littleton Town Garage Replacement  

Recipient: Town of Littleton   

Project Location: Littleton, ME  

Amount Requested: $847,000   

Project Purpose: To construct a garage for municipal vehicles and equipment.  

Penobscot Storage Upgrades   

Recipient: Town of Penobscot    

Project Location: Penobscot, ME  

Amount Requested: $1,337,000   

Project Purpose: To relocate the salt and sand storage facility. 

Poland Library Renovation and Expansion 

Recipient: Town of Poland  

Project Location: Poland, ME 

Amount Requested: $750,000  

Project Purpose: To renovate and expand the library. 

In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $1 billion for hundreds of Maine projects for FY 2022, FY 2023, and FY 2024. As the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.