By Ramona du Houx

August 16, 2012

A number of Maine projects for five Indian Township, Dexter, Eastport, Fort Kent & others will receive grants all amounting to $1.4 million from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program.

The Obama Administration has recognized the importance to funding Native American infrastructure needs with these grants.

“These investments will support projects to improve vital community facilities and increase access to rural health care,” said Congressman Mike Michaud. “Projects like these come at an important time and are critical to boosting local economic development and community infrastructure.”

A list of projects receiving funding:

• Dexter Utility District – $ 1,020,000 – Waste Water and Disposal funds in the form of a $600,000 loan and $420,000 grant will be used to make critical upgrades at the 25-year old wastewater treatment facility.
• Greater Eastport Ecumenical Churches Association – $30,000 – Grant funding will help to purchase necessary equipment for the Labor of Love Food Pantry, and improve accessibility in the parking area.
• Fish River Rural Health – $150,000 – Direct loan funding will be used for the purchase of a medical office building in Fort Kent to allow Fish River Rural Health to continue to provide health care services at a lower cost.
• New Vineyard Public Library – $27,600 – The New Vineyard Public Library ($9,850) and the New Vineyard Public Library Association ($17,750) will use grant funding to address building accessibility issues, install a new septic system and a new well, and build an addition on to the current building.
• Indian Township Health Clinic – $34,100 – Grant funding will be used to obtain a new electronic medical health records system for the Passamaquoddy Indian Township Health Clinic.
• Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Reservation – $33,750 – Grant funding will be make necessary repairs to the administrative building roof, which has led to serious leaking during the winter.
• Penobscot Indian Nation – $80,000 – Loan funding will be used to replace sewer mains on Indian Island, eliminating a health hazard and threat to the Penobscot River watershed.
• The Patriarch’s Club – $30,250 – A Economic Impact Initiative Grant will be used toward an exhibition building to showcase educational and cultural displays on natural agriculture based fibers like alpaca and sheep at the Harmony Free Fair.