BETHEL — A grant from the National Border Regional Commission (NBRC) has awarded $1M to the Town of Bethel for the wastewater treatment system plant (WWTP).

Bethel, the only town in Oxford County on the list of recipients, joined Rockport, Ellsworth, Grand Isle, Washburn, Holden and Fort Kent in receiving monies. Agencies in Aroostook and Washington Counties were recipients, too.

The award was announced by Town Manager Sharon Jackson at the town’s board of selectman meeting on June 27. Jackson said Engineering Firm Weston & Sampson applied for the NBRC grant for Bethel’s WWTP.

“I received notification from Senator Susan Collins’ office June 21 informing me the Town was awarded the grant.  I was told an announcement would be made by Senator Collins office Thursday June 27 at noon and asked I not disclose the information until announced.  I received notification and made the announcement at our meeting Thursday June 27,” said Jackson.

Weston & Sampson is the engineering company for Bethel’s Mill Hill Pump Station and Route 2 Sewer Main and Upgrades project for the WWTP, explained Jackson.

Select Board Member Meryl Kelly said, the Board voted with Jackson’s encouragement to allow Weston and Sampson to apply for this grant on the towns behalf to try and offset some of the costs on the necessary WWTP upgrades.

“Sharon worked tirelessly to provide all the information needed in a very short amount of time … So we knew we applied but we were excited to have been awarded funds as the grant is traditionally difficult to win.”

Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced the awards by e-mails, “Strong infrastructure and economic opportunities make for strong communities. These grants will create good-paying jobs and support the health and safety of Maine families,” Golden said. “With resources made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the NBRC continues to empower the growth of Maine’s economy.”

The NRBC awarded 11 grants in all totaling more than $6 million to towns and organizations in the Second Congressional District.  Besides infrastructure they will fund child care, workplace development and education.

The NBRC is a federal-state partnership created by Congress in 2008 to help alleviate economic distress and encourage private sector job creation throughout the northern counties of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York.

Representatives from Congressman Golden’s office joined Governor Janet Mills and NBRC Federal Co-Chair Chris Saunders at an unveiling ceremony in Rangely on July 2 to celebrate the awards.