U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine, announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development has awarded Rural Community Development Initiative Grants totaling $457,104 to three Maine community agencies, according to his office.

Here's how the money will be distributed:

•Penquis CAP, Inc. ($57,860): Funds will be used to provide technical assistance to four communities located in one of the highest unemployed areas of Maine. The assistance will be focused on 691 mobile homes, 115 of which are over 30 years old, for energy and replacement strategies with affordable housing. (based in Bangor, serves Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Knox Counties)

•Piscataquis County Economic Development Council ($137,769): Funds will be used to provide technical assistance to 22 communities for energy savings, community development, and housing. The emphasis will be on leveraging resources and individual community training to improve infrastructure. The assistance will help an extremely remote, high unemployment area plan for the climbing energy costs and declining employment base it now faces. (based in Dover-Foxcroft, serves Piscataquis County)

•Western Maine Community Action Inc. ($261,475): Funds will be used to provide financial and technical assistance and training materials that can be used elsewhere in the areas of homeowner energy use, safety (falls), and fire prevention. Home inspection and energy audit training sessions with experts will be held with the overall goals of keeping elderly, primarily low income residents, in their homes. (based in East Wilton, serves Franklin, Androscoggin and Oxford counties)