Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)
WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) voted today for a final package of Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills that included $7.6 million for investments in working waterfronts and other community projects in Maine.
The spending “minibus” passed the House with bipartisan support, 341-88, and now goes to the Senate.
Golden won funding for the projects during negotiations over a wide-ranging spending package that funded the departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development. The House has now passed all 12 appropriations bills necessary to fund the government through the fiscal year that ends October 1, 2026.
“This spending package delivers for Maine workers and families, most notably working waterfronts throughout Penobscot Bay that are the lifeblood of so many coastal communities,” Golden said. “Additional project funding will support infrastructure improvements, public works, and educational opportunities throughout the district. This kind of congressionally directed spending is only possible when Congress passes spending bills and is one reason I’ve long called for a return to regular order. I’m proud to have once again been able to deliver for Maine’s 2nd District.”
Golden won funding in appropriations for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development to support eight community projects in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, including:
- $2 million to improve the Stonington Commercial Fish Pier. Funds will be used for dredging necessary to support pier improvements and increased elevation of three feet for flood mitigation and to address climate-related sea level rise and storm surge at the Stonington fish pier.
- $1.4 million to rebuild the Town Dock in Swan’s Island. The dock is the only public access float in Burnt Coat Harbor, the working waterfront for Swan’s Island’s fishermen, and the access point for emergency responders and agencies helping citizens in times of need.
- $1.2 million to support working waterfront access at Henry Point in Jonesport. Funds will be used for infrastructure including a concrete and steel pier built atop the existing stone breakwater. The new pier will prove space for commercial boat berths. Current space constraints leave boats vulnerable to storm damage or expensive haul-out fees.
- $850,000 to expand the Fort Kent Public Works Garage. The 6,800-square foot expansion project aims to provide additional space for storing and maintaining snowblowers, plows, salt spreaders, graders and other essential vehicles and machinery.
- $850,000 to build the Mi’kmaq Environmental Laboratory. The facility will support water testing and provide education and training opportunities for Tribal youth and others interested in pursuing a career in science- and natural resource-related fields.
- $565,000 to upgrade Alden Hill Road in Jay. Funds will support enhancements to a 3,200-foot stretch of road to better support heavy loads, replace a dilapidated culvert, and lay new pavement. The upgraded road will facilitate wood product deliveries needed to support a new oriented strand board (OSB) plant at the shuttered paper mill site.
- $500,000 to support the expansion of Central Maine Community College’s Public Service Simulation Center in Auburn. The center prepares students to start a career in law enforcement, and its expansion will improve the functionality of the space for training by law enforcement agencies and public services organizations.
- $250,000 to increase sewage capacity and foster economic investment in Auburn. Increasing capacity at the Washington Street sewage pump station and for construction of a new Commerce Way sewage pump station will make business expansion and attraction within Auburn’s Forest Bioproducts Advanced Tech Hub possible. Currently, Auburn does not have the sewage capacity to attract new businesses in that part of the city.
More details on Golden’s requests for FY2026 Community Project Funding can be found here.
Local leaders involved with the community projects celebrated passage in the House:
Linda L. Nelson, economic and community development director for the Town of Stonington: “As Maine’s largest lobster port, Stonington’s working waterfront is vital for not just our local economy, but for the entire state. Our town has long identified the infrastructure upgrades that will be needed to keep our fisheries productive and this funding from Congressman Golden is key to making it happen. Stonington is grateful for this investment and excited to preserve our fishing heritage.”
Selectman Jason Joyce, Town of Swan’s Island: “Our Town Dock has been in disrepair for a decade, and the Fish Plant Committee (with the guidance of G.F. Johnston and Associates) designed a rebuild that will last for generations of islanders’ vessels. This project — crucial to supporting our working waterfront, first responders, and coastal community at large — has now been ensured after years of careful planning. We thank Congressman Golden for his commitment to the needs of fishing communities in his District. He’s given an example of how to truly represent our needs.”
Harry Fish, Jr., Jonesport Selectboard chairman, and John Church, Jonesport harbormaster and co-chair of the Henry Point Project Committee: “The Henry Point Working Waterfront project is desperately needed and supports local commercial fishermen and other marine-related businesses. Fishing, seafood harvesting and other marine businesses are the lifeblood and generational heritage of Jonesport and vital to our local, regional and state economy. The planned improvements will provide additional space and better access while allowing commercial fishermen to access and secure their boats more efficiently in the protected harbor. The Town of Jonesport thanks Congressman Golden for his support of this important infrastructure for the Henry Point Working Waterfront Project.
Fort Kent Town Manager Suzie S. Paradis: “The existing Public Works garage no longer provides a safe working environment for employees, due to space constraints and incompatible bay configurations. The Department has added more than 33 miles of plowing roadway without any expansion to the facility needed to support that growth. In winter, with temperatures sometimes below 0 degrees, the lack of adequate indoor storage directly impacts equipment reliability and emergency response. In extreme winter conditions, reliable and timely response is critical to ensuring safe access for school buses transporting students and continued operations at the Fort Kent Elementary school, Fort Kent Community Valley Rivers Middle/high school, the University of Maine at Fort Kent, and uninterrupted emergency access to the hospital, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. Exposure of essential equipment to severe weather conditions increases the risk of mechanical failure, which can delay response times and directly impact the safety of students, seniors, and residents who depend on timely municipal services. The building’s limited space forces trucks to be stored with wings raised inside the garage, creating unnecessary safety hazards for staff. Expanding the Public Works garage is essential to protect employees, preserve municipal assets, and ensure uninterrupted service to our community.”
Chief Sheila McCormack and Environmental Health Director Shannon Hill, Mi’kmaq Nation: “The Mi’kmaq Environmental Laboratory (MEL) in Presque Isle has been open since the early 2000s, providing drinking water analysis not only for the Tribal Community but all residents of Aroostook County. MEL also provides STEM youth engagement, internships and workforce development. Today, we are the only state-certified drinking water lab north of Newport, making our facility invaluable to Aroostook County. MEL has outgrown the current small space and must expand to service our area’s water testing needs. This support will assist in the planning and development of a new facility plus can provide matching funds to leverage more money that will be needed to complete this project.”
Jay Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere: “We are very grateful that the funding Congressman Golden put forward to support the Town of Jay’s Alden Hill Road project is moving forward. This project is critical to the redevelopment of the former paper mill in Jay and to the future economic prosperity of our community. This funding will provide needed financial relief to town residents who have faced increased burden since the mill’s closure and will allow an infrastructure project that will directly support the creation of new jobs in our economically depressed region. This will help bring back some of what was lost and will support the future growth and long-term sustainability of our town.”
Dr. Betsy Libby, president of CMCC: “Approval of Community Project Funding (CPF) would allow Central Maine Community College to enhance the Public Service Simulation Center, providing upgrades and new equipment for the training of criminal justice and conservation law personnel. Both CMCC students and local agencies use the facility to conduct training. CPF approval ensures these essential enhancements can be completed without placing an unsustainable financial burden on the college.”
Mayor Jeffrey D. Harmon, City of Auburn: “Approval of Community Project Funding (CPF) will empower the City of Auburn to advance an essential next phase of our Auburn Tech Hub Infrastructure Expansion Project, addressing a long‑standing sewer capacity issue that limits our community’s full economic potential. This investment will also strengthen system reliability and enhance operational efficiency for Auburn’s residents and businesses. Equally important, CPF approval ensures these critical upgrades can move forward without placing an undue financial burden on our community, while representing a forward‑looking investment.”
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