Fox 23: Analysis of U.S. Federal Grant Making Into Portland Maine FY2022 186_Fox23_Portland_Maine_Federal_Grants

December 8, 2022 04:13 PM

Fox23

By Adam Andrzejewski
CEO/founder, OpenTheBooks.com

The fiscal year of the U.S. federal government just ended on September 30. The most recent data shows that $204 million in federal grants flowed to 81 entities with a Portland Maine address. 

Here are the top local governments that received a federal grant in fiscal year 2022:

 

TOP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN PORTLAND MAINE | RECEIVING FEDERAL GRANTS FY2022

NAME

TOTAL FEDERAL GRANTS FY2022

CITY OF PORTLAND

 $30,251,166 

NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND PASSENGER RAIL AUTHORITY

 $24,421,783 

PORTLAND HOUSING AUTHORITY

 $9,042,626 

UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM

 $7,979,614 

GREATER PORTLAND TRANSIT DISTRICT (INC)

 $7,380,092 

GREATER PORTLAND COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS

 $3,900,000 

CASCO BAY ISLAND TRANSIT DISTRICT

 $2,700,469 

CUMBERLAND, COUNTY OF

 $2,001,674 

Source: Federal Checkbook FY2022 | Learn More at OpenTheBooks.com

A majority of the city’s federal grants flowed to airport projects ($22.9 million) and included a runway rehab expansion with new lighting and the addition of 20,000 square yards of terminal apron. However, $10.4 of the airport grants went to pandemic cleaning programs and support for the concession vendors. 

Other federal grants received by the city included $1 million for the housing investment programs; $200,000 in police/justice grants; and $3 million from the EPA for brownfield restoration.

Here are the top ten non-government recipients in fiscal year 2022:

TOP 10 FEDERAL GRANT RECIPIENTS (excluding governments)
FY2022 | PORTLAND, MAINE

NAME

TOTAL FEDERAL GRANTS FY2022

MAINE GUARANTEED ACCESS REINSURANCE ASSOCIATION

 $45,821,025 

MAINEHEALTH

 $23,282,254 

PREBLE STREET

 $7,751,826 

GULF OF MAINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE

 $6,887,976 

CATHOLIC CHARITIES MAINE

 $5,363,711 

PORTLAND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

 $4,160,670 

OPPORTUNITY ALLIANCE, THE

 $3,883,825 

PINE TREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE INC

 $2,775,000 

CENTER FOR HEALTH POLICY DEVELOPMENT

 $2,333,208 

FRANNIE PEABODY CENTER

 $1,470,555 

Source: Federal Checkbook FY2022 | Learn More at OpenTheBooks.com

Interesting federal grants to local entities include:

  • Greater Portland Council of Governments $4.2 million for economic development planning.
  • Frannie Peabody Center $1.47 million for housing assistance for people with AIDS.
  • Pine Tree Legal Assistance $1.8 million for ‘eviction protection assistance.’
  • Dairy Farmers of America $492,327 for distribution of market volatilely grants to farms experiencing pandemic hardships.
  • Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine ($150,000), Space Gallery ($250,000), Fork Food Lab ($214,000), Miane International Trade Center ($342,380), and Standard Biocarbon Corporation ($998,588)

As a city, Portland received an outsized share of federal grants because of the government entities and major private entities located within the city limits. The numbers are quite striking:

Here are the federal grants summarized by locality:

  • Portland ($204 million) with a population of 68,300 received $2,986 per capita.
  • Lewiston ($12.6 million) with a population of 36,617 received $344 per capita.
  • Auburn ($4.5 million) with a population of 24,000 received $187 per capita.
  • Brunswick ($7.6 million) with a population of 20,300 received $374 per capita.
  • Westbrook ($227,000) with a population of 20,600 received $11 per capita.

We reached out to the Taxpayer Protection Alliance for additional context.
 

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