WASHINGTON —  Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today shared that USDA Rural Development awarded a loan of $2,750,000 and a grant of $1,250,000 million to the town of Blue Hill for upgrades and repairs to their wastewater treatment plant. The funding would go towards much-needed repairs to the facility that the congressman has been working with local leaders to secure for the past year. The total budget for upgrades at the 47-year-old facility exceeds $5 million.

“As I saw in my visit to the plant in August, the last few years of rising tides in Blue Hill Harbor have left the plant in need of some upgrades and repairs,” said Congressman Golden. “Today’s USDA funding will go a long way to ensuring that the families and businesses in Blue Hill can continue to count on safe water.”

Golden met with local leaders and toured the Blue Hill facility in August.

Open since 1975 and last upgraded in 2000, Blue Hill’s Wastewater Treatment Facility is showing its age and has been impacted by rising tide levels from the surrounding waters. Earlier this year, Golden passed $1 million in Community Project Funding (CPF) for the facility through the House, although it remains unclear whether the Senate will act on the House-passed legislation.

Read more about the USDA’s grant and loan announcement here.

Read more about the Community Project Funding request Rep. Golden passed through the House here.