Senator Susan Collins Secures $4 Million for Maine's First 3D-Printed Neighborhood for Homeless Individuals
Senator Susan Collins announced that she has secured $4 million in federal funding for a project to build Maine's first 3D-printed neighborhood for homeless individuals. This initiative is a collaboration between the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composite Center and Penquis, a community action agency. The funding will support the design and production of a community comprising nine homes, which will be constructed using the University of Maine’s BioHome3D technology. According to Senator Collins, this housing development will be notable as the first in Maine to be built from wood sawmill waste, emphasizing sustainable construction practices. Officials from the University of Maine plan to build the homes in phases of three, allowing for continuous learning and improvement of the design throughout the construction process. The homes will be similar in concept to the university's first bio-based 3D-printed home unveiled in Orono in 2022. 
