Governor Janet Mills today announced the award of $5.1 million in grants to 76 cities, towns, and tribal governments for community-led projects that strengthen critical infrastructure against climate effects, such as 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 Governor Mills based on a leading recommendation of Maine’s climate action plan, Maine Won't Wait.
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 pro-active steps to become more prepared for flooding, storm surge, rising sea levels and other climate effects that put lives and livelihoods at risk,” said Governor Mills. “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.”
“Behind each of these grants is a community that has come together to plan for a resilient future,” said Samantha Horn, Director of the Maine Office of Community Affairs. “I admire the tremendous work and dedication that happens at the local level in identifying shared goals and taking action. I am so pleased that the Maine Office of Community Affairs can assist by administering the Community Resilience Partnership grant programs.”
“The Community Resilience Program should serve as a blueprint for future state–municipal partnerships,” said Cathy Conlow, Executive Director of the Maine Municipal Association. “The time and collaboration invested by staff in the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future—and now the Maine Office of Community Affairs—demonstrate that when municipal perspectives are heard and considered, the outcomes are stronger and more impactful.”
Grantees in this sixth round include the Town of Cambridge, the City of Calais, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, and Monhegan Plantation:
The City of Calais received $75,000 to upgrade 30 sidewalk lighting fixtures to LED lighting, which lasts longer, uses less energy, and shines brighter for pedestrians.
The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians received $74,888 to replace oil furnaces with more energy efficient and less polluting heat pumps in 23 units of the Maliseet Riverside Village, a Tribe-owned housing development.
Monhegan Plantation received $75,000 to develop engineering plans to raise and rebuild the Monhegan Town Wharf, the sole access point for boats and ferries coming to and from the island, which is threatened by sea level rise.
“This Community Resilience Partnership grant will allow Calais to improve downtown walkability and pedestrian safety while lowering energy consumption, which will generate long-term savings for residents. Our sidewalk lighting project, made possible by CRP funding, will enhance the city’s commercial and community spaces while supporting our climate and sustainability goals,” said Mike Ellis, Town Manager of Calais.
“The Community Action Grant has allowed us to actually do implementation where other grants we’re working through planning efforts. This is moving the ball forward,” said Sharri Venno, Environmental Planner at the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians.
“Monhegan is a small community with big needs. The Plantation views the Public Wharf as a critical connection to the mainland and a necessary resource for our community. Thanks to grant funding from the CRP, we are pursuing engineered designs for a renovated Wharf that better serves the needs of the community in both the short and long term as we stand on the frontlines of changing ocean conditions and sea level rise. We are grateful for this partnership and the commitment of the State of Maine to helping us and other small communities tackle the challenges most vital to our survival and our climate resilience,” said Elizabeth Dudley, Monhegan’s Island Institute Fellow.
A full list of awardees is available here (PDF). Visit the Partnership webpage for an interactive map of communities awarded grants through the program.
This latest round of grants is sourced from both State and Federal funds. The federal funding is part of a five-year grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate Resilience Regional Challenge grant awarded to the State of Maine in the fall of 2024. Maximum awards to communities range from $50,000 to $75,000. Two or more entities could also jointly apply for up to $175,000.
Applications are open for the next round of Community Action Grants. In addition to Community Action Grant funding that goes directly to communities, Service Provider Grants are available to support organizations that assist communities with climate action, energy and resilience planning. More information is available on the Partnership’s grants webpage.
The Partnership is part of the Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA), which was created by Governor Mills and the Legislature in 2024 as a one-stop-shop to assist municipalities, tribal governments, and regional planning organizations in building a more resilient future.
MOCA, through its State Resilience Office, leads cross-agency efforts to enhance climate resilience across the state, especially in communities with significant climate vulnerabilities. That includes implementing LD 1, landmark legislation the Governor introduced with overwhelming bipartisan support that improves how Maine communities, homeowners, businesses, and emergency responders can prepare for, and ultimately withstand, the effects of severe storms.
LD 1 built on $60 million the Governor proposed and the Legislature approved in 2024 to support the recovery and rebuilding of Maine communities and businesses following the severe storms of December 2023 and January 2024 -- the single largest investment in storm recovery by any Administration in Maine history.
The Partnership will also host the Stronger Communities Summit on June 10 at the University of Maine Wells Conference Center in Orono. The statewide conference will feature peer exchange between communities taking action on climate and resilience initiatives, as well as panel discussions of case studies to provide actionable insight into designing effective solutions, overcoming implementation challenges, and sustaining long-term positive change. Register on the Stronger Communities Summit event page.