What's New at MMA

Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association and Tidal Bay Consulting Released New Resource for Municipal Planning and Preservation of the Working Waterfront

Friday, March 10, 2023

Working Waterfront Inventory Template.  The Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association and Tidal Bay Consulting recently released a new resource for municipal planning and preservation of the working waterfront. The Working Waterfront Inventory Template is a tool developed to assist municipal efforts to collect baseline data on working waterfront locations, infrastructure, and the local economic impact of fisheries and aquaculture. For more information about the template, please...


Department of Energy Announces Two New Funding Opportunities

Thursday, March 9, 2023

The Department of Energy announced two new funding opportunities—totaling $315 million—as part of the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program. The ERA program aims to improve the resilience, reliability, and affordability of energy systems in communities across the country with 10,000 or fewer people. For more information on the ERA program, please visit this site and for more information on the Energizing Rural Communities Prize,  please...


U.S. Treasury Re-opens Its Helpline and Contact Centers

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

The assistance is well timed, as the April 30, 2023 annual reporting deadline for most Maine municipalities is fast approaching. The process for filing an annual report can be complicated and overwhelming to municipal staff unfamiliar with federal filings. Click here to read the NLC Update. For more information and links to resources on ARPA grant requirements, see MMA Legal Services information packet on the topic in the “members’ area” of our site.


Maine DEP Accepting Applications for Small Community Grant Program to Correct Malfunctioning Septic Systems

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Applications received by 5 p.m. on February 28 will be reviewed in the first round.  For more information about the grant program, please click here . Community Grant Program.  The Department of Environmental Protection is accepting applications for the Small Community Grant program to correct malfunctioning septic systems.  Grant applications will be accepted throughout the year but will be reviewed on a quarterly basis.


Community Resilience Partnership Report

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

The Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future released the Community Resilience Partnership report.  In its first year of implementation, the Partnership made 74 Community Action Grant awards totaling $3.71 million to cities, towns, tribes, and unorganized communities in Maine. Visit this link to access the full report.  Click here for details.


EV Charging Materials from Efficiency Maine Available

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Efficiency Maine is offering two new "How-To" guidebooks to complement an existing library of educational resources about electric vehicles (EVs) and charging. The guides can be accessed below. 1.       Charging Your Electric Vehicle At Home & Away: A guidebook with easy-to-use, practical information about how to charge your EV. 2.       Installing Level 2 Electric Vehicle Chargers at Commercial & Public...


Affordable Housing Law; Updated Guidance for Municipalities

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Last spring, Governor Mills signed new affordable housing legislation into law, P.L. 2021, c. 672, entitled, An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions (also known as LD 2003). The effective date of Chapter 672 was August 8, 2022, although municipalities are not required to comply with many of the requirements in the law until July 1, 2023.


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