Penquis receives $124K housing grant from USDA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the Department is investing $86 million to improve equitable access to jobs, business opportunities, education, housing, and health care for people who live and work in rural areas. The investments are part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to ensure that people living in rural communities have equitable access to the infrastructure and opportunities often taken for granted by people living in urban and suburban areas.
As a part of this nationwide announcement, five Maine organizations will receive a total of $867,841 to help rural state communities. Penquis is receiving a housing preservation grant in the amount of $124,604. This rural development investment will be used for the rehabilitation of very low and low income, owner occupied homes in Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Knox counties. The program will focus on immediate health and safety issues and energy conservation repairs for the homeowner.
“Regardless of where they live, their race, ethnicity or gender, or the size of the town in which they live, all people must have access to good jobs, decent housing, clean water and good job opportunities,” Vilsack said. “This is foundational to a healthy society and stable communities. Today’s announcements build on the historic investments made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act signed into law by President Biden to ensure equity during a time when people living in underserved places are suffering the most. The investments I am announcing today will go a long way toward helping America ‘Build Back Better’ toward a just and more equitable society.”
USDA Rural Development Acting Maine State Director Tommy R. Higgins said, “Maine communities will be strengthened through important investments announced today in a number of critical ways, including quality housing, water and wastewater system improvement, empowering cooperatives, and supporting economic development in some of Maine’s most rural towns.”