Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.9 Million to Make Critical Water Infrastructure Improvements in Hartland, Maine

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.9 million grant to the Town of Hartland, Maine, to make critical water infrastructure improvements needed to support the region’s business community. According to grantee estimates, the project is expected to help retain 175 jobs.

“The Trump Administration has recognized the challenges facing countless American communities with an urgent need to upgrade their crumbling infrastructure,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “Due to the action of those in Hartland, this project will provide the modern infrastructure that local businesses need to flourish.”

“The people of Hartland are hard-working Mainers who value the public infrastructure needed to keep business operating in their rural town,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “Hartland’s local leaders have made important investments needed to retain valuable jobs for the State and the region, and I am grateful to President Trump and Secretary Ross for making these investments in a rural part of a rural state.”

“Maintaining and upgrading infrastructure is vital to ensuring that businesses are able to thrive and create economic opportunities in their communities,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “We welcome this important investment for the Town of Hartland to improve its wastewater treatment system, which will help retain jobs, attract new businesses, and preserve water quality and public health.”

This investment supports the construction of upgrades throughout the Town of Hartland's wastewater treatment system, some components of which are obsolete or inoperable. The system will support the continuing operations of a local tannery, aid in the retention of its 175 employees, and help attract new businesses to the region.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.