Community projects to get federal funding

WASHINGTON – Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins announced that Maine projects were incorporated by Senate appropriators in the fiscal year 2003 Appropriations bill funding the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, and other independent federal agencies.

The enactment provides funding for veterans services, housing programs, environmental protection, space and science programs and community service – following committee action on the bill. The specific funding that will benefit Maine and contained in the legislation include:

. Veterans Health Care – The bill contains $23.9 billion for veterans health care, and $100 million for the state veterans home program.

. Gulf of Maine Laboratory – $2 million to construct a Gulf of Maine research laboratory in Portland.

. Corinna wastewater treatment – $1 million to revamp water and wastewater systems.

. Augusta wastewater improvements – $500,000 in wastewater improvements.

. Vinalhaven wastewater facility – $500,000 to be coupled with a past $3 million appropriation to overhaul the system.

. Brewer waterfront development – $250,000 to improve riverfront property along the Penobscot.

. University of Maine system Aroostook development initiative, Presque Isle and Fort Kent – $500,000 to construct a Health and Physical Education complex at the University of Maine, Presque Isle, and erect a building to house the Acadian Cultural Archives at the University of Maine, Fort Kent.

. Greenville Composites Incubator Center – $250,000 to create a new business incubator to house and support businesses specializing in commercialization of wood composite materials.

. Forum Francophone des Affairs, Lewiston – $200,000 to support the Forum, a business and cultural association headquartered in Lewiston.

. Eastern Maine Technical College technical resource center – $200,000 to upgrade high-tech equipment, teaching laboratories, and other educational resources at Eastern Maine Technical College.

For information, call Dave Lackey at Sen. Snowe’s office, (202) 224-8667, or Felicia Knight at Sen. Collins’ office, (202) 224-2523.