The towns of Kingfield and Jay are among six in the state sharing $1,356,000 from the Northern Border Regional Commission, according to a news release from U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R-2nd District.

Jay will get $250,000 and Kingfield, $247,000. Kingfield will use the money to fund part of the upgrades to the pump stations of the town’s aging sewer system, said Michael Byerly, of Poliquin’s office. Jay will use the money to “upgrade a portion of municipal highway,” according to the release. It didn’t specify what road would be upgraded.

Kingfield Administrative Assistant Leanna Targett was excited Tuesday when she heard the town was getting the money — she found out when the Morning Sentinel called for comment — but didn’t comment further because she had to confirm the award.

John Sheehan, an administrator for the NBRC, said Tuesday that the commission will release its own news release on the awards Friday.

Other towns getting money include Orono, where the Old Town Fiber Corp. will get $250,000 to expand Internet services in the community; the Lincolnville Sewer District, which will get $250,000; and Presque Isle, which will get $250,000 “and create 23 new jobs,” according to the release. Greenville will get $109,000 and “create 10 new jobs over the next two years,” according to the release.

The money is intended for public and nonprofit recipients to improve or upgrade infrastructure in order to encourage private sector investment in their communities and regions, according to the Poliquin release.

“I am pleased to see the NBRC is making such a strong commitment to Maine’s Second District,” Poliquin said in the release. “These grants will give our tight-knit communities the resources they need to upgrade and be open for business.”

The NBRC is a federal-state partnership designed to help alleviate economic distress and encourage private-sector job creation in northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York, according to the release.

 


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.