Rep. Chellie Pingree (D) Announces Millions in Federal Funding for Ten Maine Projects, Two of Which are in Portland’s East End.
Abyssinian Meeting House, 73 Newbury Street, One of Two Beneficiaries of Federal Funding in Portland.
Milestone Recovery, on India Street, to Receive $690,000 in Federal Funding.
The Committee to Restore the Abyssinian Meeting House and Milestone Recovery are two non-profits slated to receive federal funding previously unavailable to them according to a press release issued late this evening by the office of Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D).
Milestone Recovery, on India Street, is slated to receive $690,000 to support its substance use services including the expansion of the inpatient medical detoxification program and the establishment of an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).
Milestone operates the only detox program in Maine’s First District that admits clients who are uninsured or underinsured and must often turn away dozens of cienta day. The IOP would further help to serve clients who are unable to access detox and provide long-term recovery support care for those who need it after completing detox.
The Abyssinian Meeting House Restoration Project, Newbury Street, will receive $1,700,000 to support the final phase of restoration, historic preservation and mainenance of it, the first site in Maine to be designated by the National Park Service as part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Funds will also preserve and promote the cultural heritage of African-Americans in Maine.
The final restoration phase will include the design and construction of the buildings interior, including design and installation of the museum exhibit space, building mechanicals, plumbing, HVAC and other utilities, office, commuity conference and educational space, technology for onsite and distance live-streaming program collaboration and ADA conference. Planned education programming exhibitions and humanities endeavors rely on the historic restoration of the building’s interior.
Built back in 1828, the city took over the building for back taxes. But in 1998, the city deeded the property to the Committee to Restore the Abyssinian for $250. at a city council meeting that this blogger attended with Pamela Cummings, of the Committee. The Committee was founded by Leonard Cummings and then his daugher, Pamela, succeeded him as its chairwoman. For more background information, please read posts herein dated March 2, 2018 and May 4, 2017. The latter post is focused on an art show of the work of local artist Daniel Minter.
The Augusta-based Maine Department of Marine Resources is set to receive $785,000. to develop an extensive outreach and education strategy to engage fishermen and develop common understanding across Maine’s lobster industry about the status of right whale and new regulations from NOAA.
“In addition to long-overdue investments to protect human health, fight the climate emergency and meet our trust obligations to tribal nations, the Appropriations Bill for FY 22 directly funds projects that enrich our communities for the first time in more than a decade,” said Pingree. “Through my roles on the House Appropriations Committee, I fought to secure funding for these ten Maine projects and I’m thrilled they were all included in the final bill. From projects focused on climate action and supporting Maine’s lobster industry to community health and resource programs, this funding prioritizes widely supported projects that make the biggest difference in the lives of Mainers.”
Congresswoman Pingree (D) has been a member of the House Appropriations Committee since 2013. She has served as chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies since January 2021.
These two projects in Portland are part of the ten in the state of Maine to receive federal funding in the Appropriations Bill for 2022.