Nine midcoast towns will benefit from the latest round of state grants to prepare for severe storms and flooding and reduce costs to taxpayers through energy efficiency upgrades.
The grants are through the state’s Community Resilience Partnership program, created in 2021 by Gov. Mills based on a leading recommendation of Maine’s climate action plan, Maine Won’t Wait.
Rockland will receive $79,850 for design work to make Snow Marine Park and the Rockland Harbor Trail more resilient to storms.
South Thomaston will receive $75,000 for solar power and battery storage expansion at the public library/community center.
Union will receive $80,000 for planning transportation improvements at the Union Common Village area.
Warren will receive $80,000 for transportation improvements in Warren Village.
Belfast will receive $80,000 for designing a shoreline restoration project at Heritage Park.
Northport will receive $70,685 for stormwater assessment and a pilot project for food composting.
Lincolnville will receive $79,962 for harbor resilience assessment.
Searsport will receive $74,024 for shoreline stabilization and communication improvement planning.
North Haven will receive $80,000 for scoping and designing a wastewater system.
Over the last five years, the program — first launched under the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, now administered by the Maine Office of Community Affairs — has grown to include nearly 300 communities and has awarded nearly $25 million in state and federal funding for local projects across the state.
“Through the Community Resilience Partnership, nearly 300 towns, cities and tribal governments across Maine are taking proactive steps to become more prepared for flooding, storm surge, rising sea levels and other climate effects that put lives and livelihoods at risk,” Gov. Janet Mills said in a news release. “I’m proud of the historic investments in storm recovery and resilience that my Administration, in partnership with the Legislature, have made to protect Maine’s people, businesses, infrastructure and environment from the effects of severe weather today and into the future.”
This story appears through a media partnership with Midcoast Villager.
