Press Releases

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today announced the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has granted $500,000 to the town of Kittery. NEH has awarded this grant to Kittery to update their library to make it more accessible to the public.

“Libraries are one of our most invaluable public resources and it is incredibly important that these public resources remain available to everyone in our communities,” said Pingree. “I fought for this funding on the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee because I believe everyone should have access to a stellar library in their hometown. I’m proud that Kittery is taking steps to assure accessibility and inclusion for all patrons and that they’re expanding their convening spaces to foster a sense of community. My thanks to NEH for recognizing the power of libraries as community centers.”  

Funding for the project will assist in making the Kittery library handicap and elder accessible. The library is currently housed in two buildings and multiple floors with accessibility barriers. The funding will also help to create meeting rooms and community spaces inside of the library, which already hosts many community events and serves as a hub for Naval families stationed at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. This $500,000 in funding from NEH serves as a matching grant for a privately supported humanities project.

On May 15, 2019, Pingree sent a letter in support of Kittery’s grant application.  Pingree currently serves as the Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, where she oversees funding for NEH and the creative economy. 

Details of the grant are below:

• Town of Kittery
  Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants
  Program Description: A matching grant to generate private support for a humanities project.
  Matching Amount: $500,000

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