Press Releases

Permanent Public Access to Higgins Beach Secured

The only public parking lot for popular Higgins Beach in Scarborough has been permanently protected. Higgins Beach is popular with surfers, striper fishers, and beachgoers. The owners of the 1.55-acre property wanted to protect it to support access to the beach, and
Town of Scarborough residents agreed, voting in November 2009 to approve a $1 million bond
toward the purchase of the parking lot and a separate 10.3-acre property along the Nonesuch
River.

Deals protect important drinking water resource and land for future community forest;
$50,000 endowment needed for care of the property and stewardship of public recreation
opportunities.

The State of Maine has received silver level recognition from a Northeast program—the State Electronics Challenge—for its environmental stewardship of computer equipment in 2009; the second year it has been so recognized.

Flooding is always a threat to properties located within a floodplain, but even more so during winter’s river ice and spring rains. Many people believe that their homeowner’s or business owner’s insurance policy will cover any flood related losses but unfortunately, these insurance policies DO NOT cover flood related damages. In order to receive insurance protection related to flood damage, property owners and renters are urged to purchase flood insurance. For more details on the policies available, contact your local insurance agent. It is estimated that up to 75% of homes and businesses in floodplains in Maine are NOT covered by flood insurance.

SPO’s LD 1 Progress Report shows the effects of the global recession and the jail unification law. The State’s General Fund appropriations remained below the limit set by LD 1. This year, severe revenue shortfalls due to the national recession helped push appropriations $443 million (13%) under the limit. Municipalities also responded to the recession by nearly halving property tax commitment growth from 4.7% in 2007 and 2008 to 2.5% in 2009.

The Spruce Head Fishermen’s Co-op applied for and received an award of $166,250 from the State’s Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program (WWAPP) in exchange for a restrictive covenant that severely limits any future residential or recreational uses on their 0.25 acre parcel on Seal Cove in South Thomaston. The WWAPP is administered by the Land for Maine’s Future Program (LMF) and the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR). The working waterfront covenant forever protects the site for fishermen’s use, and Co-op President Bob Baines said, “... The Land for Maine’s Future Program was essential to this success.” Vinalhaven Fishermen’s Co-op also closed their WWAPP project late in December and have successfully positioned themselves within the island’s major anchorage, Carvers Harbor, to buy more lobster from more boats and be more successful financially.

The campaign is a public education and outreach effort aimed at encouraging Mainers to increase the usage of reusable bags for shopping and decrease the use of single use paper and plastic bags. Got Your Bags, Maine? has developed a toolkit of best practices that retailers can deploy in order to meet the reduction goals. The campaign will be promoted via the web, traditional and social media.

A coalition of business leaders, grocery and retail associations, government officials, and environmental advocates will announce their campaign to encourage increased reusable bag use thereby reducing single use checkout bags by 33% by 2012 with the launch of Got Your Bags, Maine?

The Maine Department of Conservation and the State Planning Office announced this morning that five public information meetings will take place in September to hear from key stakeholders about possible sites to demonstrate new technologies for deepwater, offshore wind energy.

Cowan Mill fire proof of changing times

A Lewiston landmark consumed by flames illustrates that Maine will not be rescued by big manufacturing firms.

Census Count Comes to Maine

The Maine State Planning Office announced today local preparations for the 2010 Census, which is one year away this week. State Planning Office Director Martha Freeman recognized the importance of the 2010 Census for Maine and observed, “The 2010 Census data can affect funding in communities throughout Maine. Census data helps shape decisions for the rest of the decade about funding for public health, neighborhood improvements, transportation, education, and much more.” Beginning April 20, people from Maine communities will be conducting Address Canvassing operations.

March and April are historically when flooding occurs in Maine, but heavy rains can cause flooding any time of the year. Flooding is always a threat to properties located within a floodplain, but even more so during winter’s river ice and spring rains. Many people believe that their homeowner’s or business owner’s insurance policy will cover any flood related losses but unfortunately, these insurance policies DO NOT cover flood related damages. If you are worried about potential flooding, don’t wait to buy flood insurance.

LD 1 Report Shows Tax Burden Reduction

SPO’s annual progress report shows that for the fourth year in a row the growth rate of property taxes was lower than before LD 1 went into effect. State, county, and municipalities have stayed within their spending caps, but there is a trend of continued spending beyond school caps.

In his annual proclamation, the Governor proclaimed November 8-15 as Maine Recycles Week and asked each Maine citizen to recycle and to buy goods made from recycled materials. “Recycling has become fundamental to the health and welfare of the citizens of the State and directly contributes to the prosperity of the people of Maine through jobs in manufacturing, collection, processing, marketing and transportation throughout the State,” the Governor said in his proclamation. This year, the 10th year of Maine Recycles Week, is a time to recognize the value of recycling in our communities.

July 8, 2008: Using funds approved by voters last fall, the Land for Maine’s Future Board voted today to give approval to 46 land conservation projects across the entire state, including 8 farms. In all, the projects, which range from the Middle Intervale Farm in Bethel to a key parcel inside the Colonial Pemaquid Historic Site in Bristol, will protect recreational opportunities, conserve wildlife habitat, and secure productive farmlands on over 36,000 acres.

July 8, 2008: In a joint statement released today, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and the Land for Maine’s Future Program (LMF) announced the selection of three new working waterfront projects along the Maine coast, preserving commercial fisheries access across those properties forever.

March 20, 2008: Governor John E. Baldacci has issued a proclamation designating March 17-21, 2008 as Flood Safety Awareness Week throughout the State of Maine.“With Spring’s arrival, residents are reminded that homeowner and business policies do not cover flooding,” the Governor and Superintendent commented. “It is also important to understand that there is a 30-day waiting period before a new flood insurance policy takes effect.” competition.

March 3, 2008: The Maine Commission for Community Service is offering a multi-session course on designing an AmeriCorps program in anticipation of the next major round of grant-making. The course, “Developing a Blueprint for AmeriCorps,” is open to teams of local organizations that might want to submit a proposal in the Fall 2008 AmeriCorps grant competition.

March 1, 2008: Flooding is always a threat to properties located within a floodplain, but even more so during winter’s river ice and spring rains that follow. Many people believe that their homeowner’s or business owner’s insurance policy will cover any flood related losses but unfortunately, these insurance policies DO NOT cover flood related damages.

February 28, 2008: Maine Coastlinks, the popular directory of coastal organizations in Maine, is now available online at http://www.maine.gov/coastlinks. People can now easily find organizations involved in coastal projects and issues in Maine using the new web page, which accommodates browsing as well as targeted searching.

February 14th, 2008: In an annual report released today, the Maine State Planning Office found that, in the three years since LD 1 was enacted, the State has stayed within its appropriations limit and dedicated more resources toward K-12 education.

February 1st, 2008: The State Planning Office is pleased to announce the results of its film and radio competition. The contest was designed to create 30 - and 60- second television and radio spots to promote recycling. Students submitted over 80 videos and 3 radio ads.

December 20, 2007: The Land for Maine’s Future Board announces a new round of
conservation and farmland protection funding. The deadline for applications is April 1, 2008. The Board will select project finalists at its July 2008 meeting.

November 9, 2007: In his proclamation, Governor Baldacci asked each Maine citizen to make a commitment to recycle and to buy goods made from recycled materials. Governor Baldacci signed the official proclamation declaring November 8-15 as Maine Recycles Week and urging “all citizens to participate in their community’s recycling efforts.”

Maine Recycles Campaign Launch

October 22, 2007: Recycle. After all, everything desearves a second chance. That’s the theme of the state’s new recycling promotion campaign, which will be launched
on Monday, October 22 at 12:45 p.m. during the annual meeting of the Maine Resource
Recovery Association at Verrillo’s Restaurant, 155 Riverside Street in Portland. The goal
is to re-energize Maine’s recycling efforts.

September 7, 2007: More than 4,000 Maine Recycles Week 2007 posters are being distributed to municipal offices, schools, and businesses throughout the State. The posters announce the beginning of this year’s campaign to promote recycling and buying recycled, which is celebrated annually with Maine Recycles Week, November 8-15.

AGENCY INFORMATION

Special Projects

Press Releases

March 9, 2012 - National Flood Safety Awareness Week; March 12- 16, 2012

February 23, 2012 - Mainers Urged to Purchase Flood Insurance

February 21, 2012 - Maine AmeriCorps Funding Competition Targets Health and Education

January 27, 2012 - Coastal Planning Grants Awarded

November 3, 2011 - Eight Appointed to Broadband Task Force

October 13, 2011 - Four new Working Waterfront Access Protection Projects are approved

August 4, 2011 - Warren Cook to Chair Effort to Expand Broadband in Rural Maine

July 13, 2011 - Maine to Conserve Working Farms and Outdoor Recreation Lands

June 15, 2011 - Amanda Rector named State Economist

May 18, 2011 - State Awards Grants for Recycling

March 31, 2011 - Land for Maine’s Future Proposal Deadline Postponed Due to April Fool’s Storm, Proposals now due by 4:30 PM, Monday, April 4, 2011

March 7, 2011 - Maine Residents Urged to Purchase Flood Insurance

March 2, 2011 - Recycling and Composting Program Grants Available for Municipalities

February 15, 2011 - Land for Maine’s Future Board issues call for new proposals

June 29, 2010 - Bowdoinham Easement Preserves Habitat and Farmland

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