$6 Million for Maine After-School and Child Care Programs Secured by Senator Collins in Funding Bill

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $6,000,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for Maine after-school programs and child care in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill. The bill, which passed the Senate last week and was approved by the House of Representatives this afternoon, has been signed into law.

"Access to affordable after-school programs and child care helps promote financial stability for families while benefiting Maine's small businesses and local economies," said Senator Collins. "This funding will support the next generation of Mainers, helping to ensure students and their families have the skills, tools, and support needed to achieve their goals. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I worked hard to secure this important funding."

Funding secured by Senator Collins is as follows:

Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maine - $3,000,000 to support the construction of the Bridge to Success Center. The Center aims to provide children and teenagers from low-income families access to career and college-readiness programs. This funding would also support renovations to the Portland Clubhouse to accommodate a growing membership and expand services for elementary and middle school students.

Rumford Child Care and Community Center - $3,000,000 to support the construction of a childcare and community center at the former site of the Rumford Elementary School. The facility would support families in Northern Oxford County and Western Franklin County.

In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured nearly $1.5 billion for hundreds of Maine projects for FY 2022, FY 2023, FY 2024, and FY 2026. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.

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