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Trump Administration Highlights Significant $351 Million Investment in Maine in 2020 to Build Rural Prosperity

Name
Emily Cannon
Email
emily.cannon@usda.gov
Phone
207-990-9175
City
Washington DC
Release Date

 

Maine People, Businesses, and Communities Benefit

USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand highlighted the department’s investments in 2020 that are building prosperity and strengthening the nation’s rural businesses and communities. In Maine, over $351 million was invested in rural communities for activities like homeownership, affordable rental housing, broadband, community facilities, renewable energy, water and waste infrastructure, and rural businesses.

“Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, USDA invested a record $40 billion in rural communities in 2020,” Brand said. “This assistance is helping increase economic opportunities and improving the quality of life for rural residents across the 50 states and all U.S. territories.

USDA Rural Development State Director Timothy P. Hobbs said, “This investment of over $351 million in our Maine communities by USDA Rural Development through the Trump Administration represents more than just dollars. Through the hard work of our staff and valued partners, these loans and grants have impacted individuals, families, businesses and communities by providing loans and grants for homeownership, broadband infrastructure, healthcare services, telemedicine, water and waste systems, economic development, and more, contributing to the quality of life for Maine people.”

Below are highlights of USDA’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 accomplishments in Maine:

Investing in Key Infrastructure to Strengthen Rural Communities:

  • Invested $9.8 million in rural broadband through the ReConnect Loan and Grant Program, assisting 4,527 Maine households and 215 businesses in rural Maine. (Recipients: Town of Arrowsic, Monhegan Plantation, the Town of Roque Bluffs, and The Biddeford Internet Corporation, dba GWI.)
  • Invested $9.5 million through the Electric Loan Program connected 412 consumers, and helped to build and improve 61 miles of line in rural Maine. (Recipient Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative).
  • Invested $10 million in 16 Maine community facilities, serving 1,262,537 people through loans and grants through the Community Facilities Programs which funded the construction or improvement, or planning of essential community facilities such as healthcare facilities, schools, first responders, libraries, and recover centers.
  • Invested $19 million in 9 Maine water and wastewater systems, benefiting 10,320 users, and expanding access to safe drinking water and improve wastewater management systems.
  • Invested $999,573 in MaineHealth for telemedicine equipment serving patients in 10 Maine counties and one in New Hampshire through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program.

Assisting with Making Homeownership Dreams a Reality, Helping with Home Repairs, Providing Affordable Rental Housing:

  • Invested $256.7 million to assist 1,564 in purchasing a home in rural Maine through the Single Family Housing Programs.
  • Invested $785,472 to assist 114 Maine families make essential renovations and repairs to their homes for such purposes as weatherization, accessibility, and safety through the Repair and Rehabilitation Program.
  • Invested $37.8 million to provide 5,676 Maine families or individuals with rental assistance through the Multi-Family Housing Rental Assistance Program to help them afford their monthly rent in quality affordable rental apartments.

Bolstering Rural Economic Development:

  • Invested $510,750 in 7 rural public entities in Maine for projects to benefit small and emerging businesses in rural areas through the Rural Business Development Grant Program. (Included in this funding were 5 snowmobile trail groomers).
  • Invested more than $969,000 in 33 loan and grants through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy systems, and energy development assistance for rural Maine businesses.
  • Invested $2,192,833 in 11 rural Maine businesses or agricultural producers through the Value-Added Producer Grant Program, helping agricultural producers generate new value-added products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase their income.

Enhancing Customer Service

  • Took immediate actions to assist rural residents, businesses and communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, USDA launched a Federal Rural Resource Guide, provided loan forbearances, halted evictions, and made additional funding available under existing programs. For more information, visit our COVID-19 response page.
  • Cut red tape to increase private investment in rural America by making it easier for lenders to access four flagship loan programs under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative.
  • Streamlined regulations to ease customer access to CARES Act programs, infrastructure improvements, business development, housing, community facilities and high-speed internet access in rural areas.

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/me.

If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

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