U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $1,000,000 in the draft Fiscal Year 2022 Housing Appropriations bill to support the construction and renovation of community facilities in Gardiner. Senator Collins is the Ranking Member and lead Republican on the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee. The bill, which was officially released by the full Appropriations Committee yesterday afternoon, must still be voted upon by the full Senate and House.
"Community and cultural institutions are part of the fabric of communities, enriching the lives of residents and bringing families together," said Senator Collins. "I strongly advocated for this funding for two important institutions in Gardiner: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Kennebec Valley, which provides a safe, structured environment for children to play and develop skills that prepare them for a lifetime of success, and Johnson Hall, a historically significant building that is a center for the arts. As the appropriations process moves forward, I will continue to champion these investments for Gardiner."
Details on the funding for the two projects that Senator Collins requested are below:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Kennebec Valley Youth Center and Sports Facility
Recipient: Boys & Girls Clubs of Kennebec Valley
Location: Gardiner, ME
Amount: $650,000
Purpose: To provide funding for the construction of a new youth center and sports facility. This project would provide safe, quality, reliable childcare and youth programs for children ages six weeks to high school, as well as serve as a senior citizen center.
Renovation of Johnson Hall
Recipient: Johnson Hall, Inc.
Location: Gardiner, ME
Amount: $350,000
Purpose: To support renovations of the Johnson Hall, built in 1864, including the installation of safety measures.