By Adam Andrzejewski
CEO/founder, OpenTheBooks.com

The fiscal year of the U.S. federal government just ended on September 30. The most recent data shows that $204 million in federal grants flowed to 81 entities with a Portland Maine address. 

Here are the top local governments that received a federal grant in fiscal year 2022:

 

TOP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN PORTLAND MAINE | RECEIVING FEDERAL GRANTS FY2022

NAME	TOTAL FEDERAL GRANTS FY2022
CITY OF PORTLAND	$30,251,166
NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND PASSENGER RAIL AUTHORITY	$24,421,783
PORTLAND HOUSING AUTHORITY	$9,042,626
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM	$7,979,614
GREATER PORTLAND TRANSIT DISTRICT (INC)	$7,380,092
GREATER PORTLAND COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS	$3,900,000
CASCO BAY ISLAND TRANSIT DISTRICT	$2,700,469
CUMBERLAND, COUNTY OF	$2,001,674

Source: Federal Checkbook FY2022 | Learn More at OpenTheBooks.com

A majority of the city’s federal grants flowed to airport projects ($22.9 million) and included a runway rehab expansion with new lighting and the addition of 20,000 square yards of terminal apron. However, $10.4 of the airport grants went to pandemic cleaning programs and support for the concession vendors. 

Other federal grants received by the city included $1 million for the housing investment programs; $200,000 in police/justice grants; and $3 million from the EPA for brownfield restoration.

Here are the top ten non-government recipients in fiscal year 2022:

TOP 10 FEDERAL GRANT RECIPIENTS (excluding governments)
FY2022 | PORTLAND, MAINE

NAME	TOTAL FEDERAL GRANTS FY2022
MAINE GUARANTEED ACCESS REINSURANCE ASSOCIATION	$45,821,025
MAINEHEALTH	$23,282,254
PREBLE STREET	$7,751,826
GULF OF MAINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE	$6,887,976
CATHOLIC CHARITIES MAINE	$5,363,711
PORTLAND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER	$4,160,670
OPPORTUNITY ALLIANCE, THE	$3,883,825
PINE TREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE INC	$2,775,000
CENTER FOR HEALTH POLICY DEVELOPMENT	$2,333,208
FRANNIE PEABODY CENTER	$1,470,555

Source: Federal Checkbook FY2022 | Learn More at OpenTheBooks.com

Interesting federal grants to local entities include:

• Greater Portland Council of Governments $4.2 million for economic development planning.
• Frannie Peabody Center $1.47 million for housing assistance for people with AIDS.
• Pine Tree Legal Assistance $1.8 million for ‘eviction protection assistance.’
• Dairy Farmers of America $492,327 for distribution of market volatilely grants to farms experiencing pandemic hardships.
• Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine ($150,000), Space Gallery ($250,000), Fork Food Lab ($214,000), Miane International Trade Center ($342,380), and Standard Biocarbon Corporation ($998,588)

As a city, Portland received an outsized share of federal grants because of the government entities and major private entities located within the city limits. The numbers are quite striking:

Here are the federal grants summarized by locality:

• Portland ($204 million) with a population of 68,300 received $2,986 per capita.
• Lewiston ($12.6 million) with a population of 36,617 received $344 per capita.
• Auburn ($4.5 million) with a population of 24,000 received $187 per capita.
• Brunswick ($7.6 million) with a population of 20,300 received $374 per capita.
• Westbrook ($227,000) with a population of 20,600 received $11 per capita.

We reached out to the Taxpayer Protection Alliance for additional context.