{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-more-than-500000-in-funding-to-support-small-businesses-in-rural-maine", "Collins, King Announce More Than $500,000 in Funding to Support Small Businesses in Rural Maine", "2022-12-13", "2022", "2022-12", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced a total of $528,563 in new funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will expand development and training opportunities for small businesses in rural areas of Maine. The Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, Eastern Maine Development Corporation, and Sunrise County Economic Council will use this funding to provide business training, technical help, and loan assistance to small businesses in Androscoggin, Franklin, Oxford, Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo, and Washington counties.\n\n\u201cSmall businesses are vital to our rural communities \u2013 it means something more when the shopkeeper or the vendor is your neighbor, friend or fellow PTA member \u2013 this funding will help dozens of small businesses throughout the state continue to operate and contribute to Maine\u2019s economy,\u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cThe incredible staff at the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, Eastern Maine Development Corporation, and Sunrise County Economic Council are a driving force in providing economic development, business financing, job creation, and many other services. This investment will pay off in the form of meaningful jobs and technical training, and it will improve the livelihoods of families across rural Maine.\u201d\n\nThe funding will be allocated as follows:\n\nAndroscoggin Valley Council of Governments will receive $12,884\n\nEastern Maine Development Corporation will receive $500,000\n\nSunrise County Economic Council will receive $15,679\n\nThe United States Department of Agriculture works to provide leadership on issues related to food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues. USDA consists of 29 agencies and offices and employs nearly 100,000 people.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-more-than-500000-in-funding-to-support-small-businesses-in-rural-maine"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5622649807482958, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}