Some of the groups had held up the funding when they couldn't agree on how to divvy up the American Recovery Plan money to make public transit more frequent, reliable and convenient to use in hopes of boosting ridership.
The growing number of asylum-seekers in Maine has spurred cities and towns to join forces and build more transitional housing for families in need. The Safe in Maine coalition aims to raise $2 million of the $43 million it hopes to receive in state and federal funding for some 200 modular housing units. Belinda Ray, director of strategic partnerships for the Greater Portland Council of Governments, said the temporary homes would help the approximately 1,000 people currently residing in emergency shelters and hotels throughout the region. .