Maine awarded grant to fight drugs, violence

WASHINGTON – Various entities in Maine have been awarded $857,597 by the federal Department of Justice for drug and violence prevention.

“Funding provided by the Department of Justice is critical to ensuring that our neighborhoods remain drug and violence free,” U.S. Sens. Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins said in a joint statement announcing the awards Tuesday.

The funds are allocated as follows:

. $328,000 to the Battered Women’s Project in Presque Isle for rural domestic violence and child victimization enforcement.

. $225,000 to Volunteers of America Northern New England Inc in Brunswick for a Weed and Seed program.

. $107,000 to the Maine Department of Corrections in Augusta for juvenile justice and delinquency prevention.

. $94,367 to the city of Lewiston for crime prevention through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.

. $62,130 to the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point for tribal victim assistance.

. $41,100 to the Lewiston Police Department for gang resistance education and training.