BANGOR — Eight community facilities in the state, including in Waterville, Augusta, Gray and Fryeburg will share $5,434,400 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
USDA Rural Development Maine State Director Timothy P. Hobbs said, “Maine’s community facilities provide vital services for rural residents that improve the quality of life in our state.” He said the grants and loans will help support critical services that support education, fire and safety training and important community services.
Receiving money in Maine are:
Children’s Discovery Museum, in Waterville, a $692,500 loan and $67,500 grant. The money will be used for renovations at the museum, 7 Eustis Parkway.
Kennebec Valley YMCA, in Augusta, a $42,000 grant. The money will be used to buy equipment and complete renovations that will reduce energy use.
Fiddlehead School, in Gray, will get a Community Facilities Direct Loan in the amount of $1,555,000 to buy a building to help house increasing enrollment. The single-story, 14,500-square-foot building is on 2.25 acres in the village center.
Fryeburg Recreation Department, in Fryeburg, will get a Community Facilities Grant in the amount of $50,000 to buy equipment and complete safety renovations to the community center, which was recently built, but equipment is still needed to outfit the kitchen space.
Other money went to Regional Transportation Association Inc., in Westbrook, a $2,700,000 loan; the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, in Littleton, a $50,000 grant; Piscataquis Regional YMCA, in Dover-Foxcroft, a $67,400 grant; St. George Volunteer Fire Station, in St. George, a $145,000 loan and $65,000 grant.
More than 100 types of projects are eligible for Community Facilities funding. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public bodies, nonprofit organizations.
