Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health Prevention topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee backs $5,000 ADEPT grant application for youth gambling-prevention outreach
Summary
The finance committee voted to forward to council an order authorizing the city manager to apply for a $5,000 grant from ADEPT Educational Institute to fund gambling-prevention messaging aimed at parents and youth, with outreach tied to local events and county-level prevention programs.
The Bangor City Finance Committee voted Wednesday to forward to the full council an order authorizing the city manager to apply for a one-time $5,000 grant from ADEPT Educational Institute for gambling-prevention messaging directed at parents and youth.
Jamie Comstock of the public health/health-promotion program told the committee the funding would be used to "purchase things like ad space and printing and design" and to staff tabling and outreach at events, including the Cross Center basketball tournament, which she said would reach Bangor residents and visitors from across Penobscot County. Comstock said the award is expected in March 2026 and the grant terms require funds to be spent by Aug. 31 (dates as stated in the meeting).
Committee members asked whether the grant would primarily benefit Bangor versus the broader county service area; Comstock said the health department's prevention grants operate across the Penobscot/Piscataquis district (referred to in the meeting as District 6 or the Penquist District) and that ADEPT (formerly AdCare of Maine) coordinates statewide problem-gambling prevention work.
Councilors also raised whether the program could address online gambling and noted the value of reaching youth where they are; Comstock said she would raise digital approaches with the Maine Council on Problem Gambling and that messaging for online gaming is part of the intended outreach.
A motion to forward the application to the full council was moved and seconded; no committee member objected and the chair said the item will appear on the next council agenda.
