$105M in new federal emergency relief will go to Maine colleges, students in need

File photo / Courtesy Landing School Facebook page The Landing School in Arundel will receive $120,805 under the American Rescue Plan.

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By Staff

Maine colleges and universities will receive $105.7 million in emergency funding under the federal government's American Rescue Plan, with half of the money going directly to students facing hunger, homelessness and other hardship.

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan stimulus bill, signed into law by President Joe Biden in March, includes more than $36 billion in emergency grants for post-secondary education.

Nationwide, the grants will help more than 5,000 institutions of higher education provide emergency financial aid to millions of student and ensure that learning continues during the pandemic. Emergency funds provided plan will more than double relief aid available to students already authorized under other federal legislation, including the CARES Act.

The funding designated for Maine will come through the plan's Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, which a new formula requiring about half of the funding to be used by each institution to provide direct relief to students.

Maine's 27 recipients include Southern Maine Community College, which is in line to receive $11.4 million, and Central Maine Community College, which will get more than $7 million. (See the full list of schools and amounts below.)

“Maine students and institutions of higher learning have faced significant financial hardships due to the pandemic,” said U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine 1st District, in Tuesday's announcement. “I supported the American Rescue Plan to help students who are grappling with serious challenges like hunger and homelessness.

"This significant educational investment will go a long way to ensure students can get on track and complete their degrees at schools that are operating safely. I’m proud to have voted for this historic aid package, which will help us to defeat the pandemic, support students, and build a stronger local economy.”