AUGUSTA - A measure to create a municipal grant program to promote sustainable economic development, LD 857, sponsored by Rep. Kyle Bailey, D-Gorham, became law last month.
"With the enactment of this bill, we are perfectly poised to utilize the Federal American Rescue Plan dollars to most effectively serve Maine communities," said Bailey. "This bill establishes a municipal grant program to tie dollars to deliverables that will truly help us reach our collective goals and solve Maine's most pressing challenges."
This bill establishes a fund to provide competitive grants for cities and towns to support projects that further sustainable economic development in Maine as outlined in the Maine Economic Growth Council's annual measures of growth report and the subsequent Maine Economic Development Strategy. The municipal grant fund will be administered by the Office of Community Development.
"We need to support local and regional economic development initiatives," said bill co-sponsor Rep. Amanda Collamore, R-Pittsfield. "The fund established by this bill will provide competitive grants and direct more federal COVID-related dollars to support local projects that further the state's sustainable economic development goals."
"This bill is an excellent opportunity to help communities focus on responsible and sustainable development," said bill co-sponsor Rep. Tavis Hasenfus, D-Readfield. "These grants are catalysts to help jump-start economic revitalization in small towns across Maine in the months and years following the COVID pandemic and well into the future."
Bailey, Collamore and Hasenfus are all serving in their first terms in the Maine House and are all members of the Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee. Bailey represents parts of Gorham and Scarborough. Collamore represents Clinton, Pittsfield and Detroit. Hasefus represents Readfield, Winthrop and part of Monmouth.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Bailey, Hasenfus], c. 812-1111
John Bott [Collamore], o. 287-1440