MACHIAS, Maine – The Machias Savings Bank Foundation awarded 22 organizations with a total of more than $150,000 in Community Development Grants last month, including the Aroostook County Action Program and two other groups with ties to The County.
The organizations that received funds are located in six different counties with statewide reach and impact.
“One hundred and fifty years ago, Machias Savings Bank was formed with the purpose of serving our communities,” said Machias Savings Bank President Larry Barker. “We remain committed to that purpose today. Our passion is to move our communities and our state forward, and I believe that is what we have in common with all of the people and organizations receiving grants this year.”
Among the organizations receiving funds, Aroostook County Action Program received $10,000 to improve financial literacy and economic self-sufficiency for Aroostook County high school and college-aged youth.
The Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project of Aroostook, Washington and Hancock counties received $5,000 to ensure that low-income immigrants in eastern and northern Maine have the legal services they need to achieve financial security. In addition, Information Technology Exchange, serving Aroostook, Washington, Hancock, Penobscot and Knox counties, received $5,000 to enable the expansion of small business, literacy and employment opportunities for disadvantaged people and families through applied personal computer/information access, training and support.
“This past spring, the story that inspired us to apply for this grant was of a young man from The County who graduated high school just this past year,” said Jenny Wall of Aroostook County Action Program. “I remember him discussing ways to find housing for the college that he wanted to attend because it was one in Southern Maine that did not have on-campus housing.
“I didn’t know what happened with this young man until later in the summer,” Wall said. “I saw that he had posted a GoFundMe account, to help him with his expenses, so that he could find housing, so that he could go to college to better himself. So we will use our portion of the grant for high school seniors who have post-secondary plans and financial barriers to overcome.”
In total, $27,500 in grants were awarded to organizations that impact Aroostook County.
Machias Savings Bank plans to continue the Community Development Grant program next year, with applications becoming available in the summer of 2020.
