Mills unveils plan for COVID-19 recovery and use of more than $1 billion in federal aid

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 4, 2021

Gov. Janet Mills on Tuesday unveiled a plan at a former paper mill in Madison for addressing the impact of the pandemic and bolstering Maine’s economy in the long term with the $1.13 billion in aid the state will receive under the American Rescue Plan Act. The Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan includes:
• $260 million for grants and loans for the immediate economic recovery of Maine businesses
• $305 million for long-term economic growth and regulatory reform, with money for R&D, especially in clean energy, forest products and seafood
• $547 million for infrastructure revitalization, including $8 million for electric vehicle charging stations and $20 million to protect transportation infrastructure from climate change
• $50 million to upgrade Maine state parks, $20 million to bolster fish and wildlife infrastructure, and $16 million to improve fishing industry infrastructure and monitoring
• $25 million to ensure safe drinking water and $25 million to repair wastewater infrastructure