Senator Collins Joins Auburn PAL Center Grand Opening

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Auburn, ME - Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly built Auburn Police Activities League (PAL) Center. The new PAL Center, which is about five times larger than the original, will continue to serve as a drop-in center for after-school youth activities and mentoring. Auburn Mayor Jeffrey Harmon and City Manager Phil Crowell also spoke at the event.

"The motto of the Auburn Police Activities League is, 'It is better to build youth than to mend adults.' Since it was established in 2013, the Auburn PAL Center has provided boys and girls with a safe environment in which to play and learn after school. The children and teens also receive mentoring, nutritious food, warm clothes, and needed school supplies. It is wonderful to see them build relationships with the law enforcement officers who protect them and their families. That is why, through my role on the Senate Appropriations Committee, I worked hard to secure $3 million in federal funding for this important project," said Senator Collins during her remarks.

The new 14,000 square foot center includes a dedicated space for teens, a full-sized basketball court, multipurpose areas, meeting and storage rooms, as well as a commercial kitchen. The Auburn PAL Center is also planning to build an outdoor playground in the coming months.

Senator Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured $3 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) in the Fiscal Year 2023 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill to support the construction of the center. Last year, she participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new PAL Center.

Since 2021, Senator Collins has secured more than $1 billion in CDS for 514 projects across the State of Maine.

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