BANGOR, Maine — USDA Rural Development announced yesterday that a total of $206,400 in Community Facility Grants has been awarded, which will benefit five Maine community organizations. Among those are two in Aroostook County who will get $85,500 of that total.
The Aroostook Dental Clinic, Inc., which owns and operates the St. Apollonia Dental Clinic in Presque Isle, has been selected to receive a Rural Economic Impact Initiative Grant in the amount of $35,500.
The funds will be used to purchase a new central nitrous system and additional operating room instrumentation. The clinic, located at 112 Academy St., reaches out to all children of Aroostook County, especially those without a current dental home to provide quality dental services and education for low- and moderate-income patients and their families.
Since its establishment in 2011, the four-chair clinic has built a patient base of over 3,000 children.
The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians will receive a Community Facility Grant of $29,700 and Rural Economic Impact Initiative Grant of $20,300. The funding will be used for the development of a tribal cemetery to be located on tribal lands in Littleton, which will provide services to all tribal members.
An integral part of the tribe’s cultural identity is a burial ground for its members. Without a tribal cemetery, tribal members are buried in scattered cemeteries throughout Maine and other places in the United States and Canada.
This also creates a problem of missing links to past generations and the inability to track lineage. This project is very important to the Tribal Community for cultural and historical significance.
USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel said, “These are very meaningful investments in Maine’s rural communities that each serve a vital purpose. These grants assist with projects that are of immense importance to Maine people.
“They will help preserve the cultural identity of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, protect the iconic Atlantic Salmon, enhance arts and culture for future generations in Downeast Maine, improve the health of northern Maine residents through enhanced dental services, and revitalize a rural downtown community center.
”Also selected to receive funding are the Downeast Salmon Federation Inc. in Machias, $50,000; the Eastport Arts Center, $50,000; and Unity Barn Raisers, $20,900.
USDA Rural Development has area offices in Presque Isle, Bangor, Lewiston and Scarborough, as well as a State Office in Bangor. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural Development’s web site at http://www.rd.usda.gov/me.
