USDA Rural Development Announces $4.14 Million Invested in Maine Communities During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

This Investment Provides Critical Community Infrastructure for 15,336 People

(Bangor, Maine, April 13, 2026) - U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Maine State Director John Butera has announced that three Maine organizations will receive a total of $4.14 million for critical public safety projects.

"During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, USDA Rural Development proudly honors the dedicated first responders and dispatch professionals who work tirelessly to keep rural Maine safe," said Butera. "While the USDA and the Trump Administration are committed to investing in public safety infrastructure all year long, this week is especially meaningful. I am pleased these investments will ensure more than 15,000 Maine residents have access to modern fire stations, updated public safety buildings, and reliable fire trucks, strengthening safety and resilience across these rural communities."

Towns receiving investments from USDA Rural Development are:

• Town of Brownfield is receiving $2,898,000 to construct a new public safety building to replace an existing fire station. The existing fire station has structural issues and no longer meets the needs of the town. The new public safety building will accommodate larger modern fire trucks, include meeting and training space, and have adequate storage for other firefighting equipment. The new facility will also have access to Main Street and Spring Street, providing quicker and safer ingress and egress routes to the building, resulting in quicker emergency response times.
• Town of Springfield is receiving $750,000 to finance the construction of a town office with a fire station. The current town office and fire station are separately located and in residential areas. They have aged beyond their useful lives. The new municipal facility will be located farther away from residential areas and near the town transfer station. This will eliminate noise and traffic concerns for town residents, as well as create more area for town employees and patrons to work and use town facilities safely. The fire station section of the facility will be built to accommodate larger modern fire trucks and provide ample space for training and equipment storage.
• Town of Surry is receiving $492,000 to purchase a new fire engine. The Town's existing fire engines were built in 1985 and 1992. They do not meet current standards and lack many of the safety features and tank capacity of new fire engines. This investment is critical for structural and wildland firefighting operations in rural Maine where fire hydrants are virtually non-existent. This investment will primarily serve the Town of Surry and the secondary service area of Ellsworth, Blue Hill, and Orland.

USDA Rural Development's Community Facilities Programs offer direct loans, loan guarantees and grants to develop or improve essential public services and facilities in communities across rural America. These investments strengthen critical community infrastructure, enhance quality of life, and help rural towns attract and retain businesses and services. To learn more about these programs, contact Darrin Dyer, Community Programs Director, at [email protected] .

For more information on USDA Rural Development investments in rural America, visit the Rural Data Gateway . The Rural Data Gateway is an online tool that strengthens USDA Rural Development partnerships with rural people, entrepreneurs, government officials and Congress by making investment data accessible to the public.

Learn more online at www.rd.usda.gov , subscribe to GovDelivery updates , and follow us on X at @USDARD_Maine .

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