Two Aroostook County municipalities will receive funding from the Maine Fiscal Year 2025 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bill advanced by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who is vice chairwoman of the appropriations committee.
The funding, officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee last week, is awaiting consideration by the full Senate and House.
The Town of Littleton was one of six Maine communities designated by Collins to receive a portion of $7.5 million for upgrades and renovation to food pantries, emergency shelters, town offices and community meeting spaces.
The Town of Island Falls first responders were one of eight state fire and rescue units slated to receive a portion of $15. 8 million designated for firefighters, law enforcement and emergency response professionals to be able to do their jobs as safely as possible.
“Every day, first responders selflessly put their lives on the line to serve communities throughout Maine,” said Collins.
Littleton’s $847,000 is earmarked to replace the town garage with a new building to house municipal vehicles and equipment.
Island Falls Fire and Ambulance Department will receive $634,000 to expand the fire and ambulance department.
Other Maine municipalities selected for fire and rescue funding include $4.8 million for the Town of Belgrade to construct a new fire station, $3 million for a new Easton fire station and $3.4 million for the Town of North Berwick to construct a new consolidated fire and rescue station.
“As the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward,” Collins said in a statement.
Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending in 2021 and since that time, Collins has secured more than $1 billion for Maine-specific projects.
