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MILLINOCKET -- Many residents of the Katahdin Region have been confused by a recent news article which intimated that the all-but-defunct Katahdin Cultural Center was in line to benefit from $250,000 in federal funds secured by Rep. Mike Michaud.
In an attempt to clarify what was actually going on, the Magic City Morning Star contacted Rep. Michaud's office last week and spoke to Communications Director Monica Castellanos who cleared up some of the inaccuracies in the recent Lincoln News story.
The funding is not a grant, but an "earmark" which was approved by Congress, and is included in the Housing and Urban Development portion of the bill under the Economic Development initiative account. The actual wording is thus:
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT:
$250,000 for the Town of Millinocket for planning and design of the Penobscot Indian Cultural Center.
The earmark, explains Castellanos, is strictly for the planning and design of a Center and is not for the purchase of any building.
This action combined two ideas for projects - Penobscot Indian Historical and Katahdin Cultural Center- into one project that the Town of Millinocket could propose, and possibly seek funding for. Whether or not the Town of Millinocket would decide to apply for the funding is up in the air, as the Town is not required to apply for the funding.
If and when the Town asks for the funding, HUD scrutinizes all the earmarks and deems whether or not they are consistent with the program. If it is decided that it is within the constraints, HUD would send a letter to the Town, along with a pro forma grant application to be filled out. The Town would be the entity which would be working with the program officer to complete the application.
All in all, it generally takes more than a year before the funds are released.
"There was no 'clerical error' by Congress and there has been no discussion, much less a 'tentative agreement' to remove the Penobscot Nation's part of a project from the earmark for any reason," Castellanos said. "The Penobscots will be an important part of discussions and planning for any project and application for funding by the Town. Congressman Michaud's office has offered to bring together a number of groups and citizens this spring to begin a process aimed at seeking ideas for this earmark and any possible application by the Town."
© Copyright 2002-2008 by Magic City Morning Star
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Congressman's Office Corrects Misinformation Regarding Earmarks - Jan 29, 2008 - 7:59:31 PM
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