HOULTON, Maine — The town of Houlton has benefitted from nearly half a million dollars worth of grants over the past year, according to its economic and community development director, money that the town has used and will continue to use for infrastructure improvements and new projects in town.
Nancy Ketch, the economic and community development director responsible for bringing in the money, updated the town council on grant projects during a meeting on Monday evening. Ketch said that she is currently working on securing more than a million dollars worth of grants for the community, on top of a year in which the town has secured $491,576 in state and federal funding.
“We have received grant funding to improve our sidewalks, conduct projects in Riverfront Park and to repair the tennis courts in Community Park,” she said.
The town will use some of the money for a restroom construction project in Riverfront Park, according to Ketch.
The town also received $26,600 that will benefit the Aroostook Riders ATV Club, which will use the funding to repair and maintain ATV trails.
She said that the town continues ongoing administration of three grants, totalling $30,000 in total, which will benefit art and culture in the region. Some of the money will pay for a cultural plan for the Regional Creative Council.
Ketch said that she is still hoping to receive significant money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. She said that if approved, the town will use $376,091 of the money to purchase a new fire truck for the Houlton Fire Department. The other $44,780 will go to the acquisition of new turnout gear.
