On June 30, 2020, U.S. Senators Susan Collins, R-Maine and Angus King, I-Maine announced that the Eastern Maine Development Corporation had been awarded $400,000.
The funding is designed to support the redevelopment and revitalization of small businesses in the Maine counties of Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo and Hancock.
Eastern Maine Development Corporation provides integrated services that boost businesses, communities and individuals in those four counties.
All of those counties have suffered significant financial harm as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, so this funding was awarded through the Economic Development Administration (EDA)’s CARES Act Recovery Assistance Program.
“During this public health and economic crisis, Eastern Maine Development Corporation has continued to connect small businesses, communities, and individuals with the resources they need to get through this difficult time,” said Collins and King in a joint statement.
“We welcome this important investment, which will support Eastern Maine Development Corporation’s outstanding efforts to support the local economy and communities in four counties,” they added.
This funding will assist the organization with developing an economic recovery plan, deploy disaster recovery coordinators, provide needed technical assistance to local stakeholders and fund necessary technology and staff support for pandemic-response activities.
The CARES Act, which was signed into law on March 27, 2020, provided EDA with $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs to help communities respond to the coronavirus.
Photo of author Stephen King’s home in Bangor, Maine (Penobscot County) by 1778011 from Pixabay.