BANGOR - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced more than $400,000 has been awarded to Maine businesses and organizations for research and development.

A total of $350,000 in grants has been awarded to five Maine businesses for research and marketing. The grants are part of more than $19 million in grants being given to 144 recipients in 37 states through the Value-Added Producer Grant program.

Three organizations will receive a total of $74,000 to repair and rehabilitate housing owned or occupied by very low and low income residents in rural areas. The grants are part of $9.1 million the USDA has awarded to 148 groups and individuals in 49 states.

Western Maine Community Action will receive $30,000 to fund housing rehabilitation and repair for an estimated 10 homes in Franklin County.

Community Concepts will receive $16,000 to fund housing rehabilitation for about eight homes in Oxford and Androscoggin Counties and Penquis will get $28,000 for housing projects, heating fuel conversion and home replacement in Penobscot, Piscataquis and Knox Counties.

The five Maine Value-Added grants include $150,000 for Portland's Catch a Piece of Maine to expand marketing of their business, which uses new approaches to market lobsters directly from harvesters to consumers.

Four Freeport businesses were awarded grants, including Shamrock Partners, which will use it's $50,000 grant for a feasibility study for a wind energy generation project in Fort Fairfield. High Vale Partners A, D, and S will receive $50,000 each to fund feasibility studies for a wind energy generation project in Sherman.