FEMA AWARDS OVER $1.3 MILLION TO BOWDOIN COLLEGE FOR COVID-19 TESTING [https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20230621/fema-awards-over-1-3-million-bowdoin-college-covid-19-testing] Release Date: Jen 20, 2023 The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $1.3 million to the State of Maine to reimburse Bowdoin College for the cost of testing students, faculty and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The $1,380,180 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the private liberal arts college in Brunswick for the safe opening and operation of the college between August 2020 and June 2022. During that time, Bowdoin College provided onsite testing by purchasing COVID tests and test materials, including BinaxNow tests, antigen self-tests, SARS COV2 tests, and nasopharyngeal collection kits. “FEMA is pleased to be able to assist Bowdoin College with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. “Reimbursing state, county, and municipal governments – as well as eligible non-profits and tribal entities – for the costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic is an important part of our nation’s ongoing recovery.” FEMA’s Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency. So far, FEMA has provided more than $282 million in Public Assistance grants to Maine to reimburse the state for pandemic-related expenses.