Federal funding for new Thomaston Fire and EMS building secured
An architectural rendering of the proposed 15,100-square-foot Thomaston Fire and EMS station. At the June 2023 Town Meeting, voters had endorsed reserving 1.7 acres of the Thomaston Green on which a new fire and EMS station could be built. Port City Architecture submitted the proposed design to the town with a $7 million construction cost.
An architectural rendering of the proposed 15,100-square-foot Thomaston Fire and EMS station. At the June 2023 Town Meeting, voters had endorsed reserving 1.7 acres of the Thomaston Green on which a new fire and EMS station could be built. Port City Architecture submitted the proposed design to the town with a $7 million construction cost.
Thomaston is among six Maine towns receiving federal grants to build and/or expand fire stations and emergency services.
In a Nov. 12 news release, U.S. Senator Susan Collins reported that $12.265 million is being directed to Maine fire/emergency services through the 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bill.
Thomaston residents went to the polls Feb. 4, 2025 and with a vote of 224 to 101, approved a warrant article to give the town permission to borrow $3.5 million to help finance construction of a new fire/EMS station.
The pursuit of a bond, however, was contingent on receiving $3.5 million in Congressional directed matching funds.
The vote also gave the town permission to accept state and federal funds for the project.
Thomaston produced a chart that outlines potential tax implications on property owners last February.
The numbers are based on a 20-year bond with a 4.10 percent interest rate. An example: For a homeowner with an assessed property value of $400,000, the project would increase annual property taxes by approximately $220, or approximately $4.23 per week.
The federal funding is now contigent on the signature of the President, according to the Collins' release.
Funding includes:
Thomaston Fire and EMS Facility
Recipient: Town of Thomaston
Project Location: Thomaston, ME
Amount Requested: $3,500,000
Project Purpose: To construct a fire and EMS facility.
Belgrade Fire and Rescue Station
Recipient: Town of Belgrade
Project Location: Belgrade, ME
Amount Requested: $4,700,000
Project Purpose: To construct a fire and rescue station.
Marshfield Fire Station
Recipient: Marshfield Volunteer Fire Department
Project Location: Marshfield, ME
Amount Requested: $756,000
Project Purpose: To construct a fire station.
St. Agatha Fire Station
Recipient: Town of St. Agatha
Project Location: St. Agatha, ME
Amount Requested: $345,000
Project Purpose: To expand the fire station.
St. Albans Fire Station
Recipient: Town of St. Albans
Project Location: St. Albans, ME
Amount Requested: $1,520,000
Project Purpose: To construct a fire station.
Swan’s Island Fire and Ambulance Station
Recipient: Town of Swan’s Island
Project Location: Swan’s Island, ME
Amount Requested: $1,444,000
Project Purpose: To expand the fire and ambulance station.
In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $1 billion for hundreds of Maine projects for FY 2022, FY 2023, and FY 2024. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.
