Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME.) at a Rally in Monument Square, Portland,  Last Year.

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced early this morning that more than  $1.2 million in grant funding for affordable housing efforts has been designated for Maine’s First Congressional District.  The NeighborWorks Amerca funding will support efforts to develop and preserve affordable housing, revitalize and sustain neighborhoods and create jobs in Maine.

The grants are as follows:

AVESTA HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, to receive $430,000;

COASTAL ENTERPRISES, INC., to receive $554,000;

KENNEBEC VALLEY COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM HOUSING SERVICES, to receive $259,000.

“The affordable housing crises in Maine is putting a tremendous strain on our communities.  As rents and everyday costs continue to rise, organizations like AVESTA, CEI and Kennebec Valley Community Action Program Housing Services ae working to help keep our neighbors housed and healthy,” said Congresswoman Pingree. “It’s more important than ever organzations like these get the federal support they need.  I am thrilled the funding I helped secure through the Appropriations bill is being infused into our communities as we work towards long-term solutions to the nationwide housing crises.”

“Why do you suppose that the local daily newspaper, “The Portland Press Herald” has not reported this important news?”  asks this blogger, from the Munjoy HIll News.com. “Could it be that the publisher/editor team  is just so conservative that they can’t acknowledge the positive work of a Democrat?”  This unbalanced and biased reporting reminds this blogger of many of the nation’s Federally elected officials who ignore the results of the mid-term elections last November in their absurd policy strategies.  Maybe this chain of newspapers would sell/distrirute  more if the publisher/editor had  more balanced news coverage  – rather than depending on sensational news coverage to bolster sagging circulation.