News Release for January 30, 2008
For More Information, Please Contact:
Kevin Rousseau, MaineDOT Office of Freight and Business Services, 624-3565
Mark Latti, MaineDOT Office of Communications, 626-3030

MaineDOT Awards Nearly $1 Million to Coastal Communities

The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) is awarding nearly one million dollars ($960,700) in grants to 21 coastal cities and towns under the Small Harbor Improvement Program (SHIP). 

The Small Harbor Improvement Program supports approximately 18,000 licensed commercial fishermen and related industries along the Maine coast that increasingly rely on these public facilities for access to resources. With coastal real estate pressures forcing changes away from public ownership, SHIP protects a dwindling public asset through a successful state/local partnership.  Examples of successful initiatives under this program include pier reconstructions, float installations, boat ramp rehabilitations, new hoist installations and gangway replacements.

“This represents a major effort by MaineDOT and Maine municipalities to improve and protect working waterfronts while at the same time promoting sound economic development and public access along the coast,” Transportation Commissioner David Cole explained. 

Funds for the SHIP grants were authorized by the legislature and approved by Maine voters through a transportation bond referendum in June of 2007. These grants require a local cash match of between 25-75%.  Therefore, the total program effort is expected to exceed $2.78 million. 

“Working waterfronts are the heart of our coastal communities. These funds ensure that not only jobs but our coastal Maine traditions will continue for generations to come,” said Governor John Baldacci.

Since 1995, six previous rounds of SHIP awards have dispersed $5.7 million to 62 different coastal municipalities totaling 112 projects. Without this program, municipalities would likely forsake such important projects or be forced to carry out the project with only local resources. The program enjoys widespread support from coastal municipalities and statewide commercial fishing and marine interests.

“We are very pleased by this continued level of interest in the Small Harbor Improvement Program.  The grant applications reflected a continuing need for cities and towns to address public waterfront infrastructure such as wharves, floats, boat ramps and piers,” Cole continued. 

An inter-agency committee composed of representatives from five state agencies selected the successful projects based upon criteria that included the economic impact of the project, the thoroughness of the application and the ability of the project to be carried out in a timely manner.

In addition, the committee identified a two individual $100,000 grants that will be made to the city of Ellsworth and the town of Mount Desert for improvements to their respective waterfronts under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program. 

“Due to the past success of the completed SHIP projects and the economic boost that these new projects will provide, we are looking forward to getting to work right away with these cities and towns,” concluded Cole.

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