Kennebec Valley Council of Governments (KVCOG) invited members of its region's municipalities to provide education and informative information on three hot button topics including: sustainable waste management solutions to create proactive solutions to the pending closure of the Hatch Hill Facility located in Augusta, the implementation of the new housing law, known as LD 2003, and PFAS updates.
In the first session, KVCOG invited ecomaine, Casella, Apparel Impact, and the Department of Environmental Protection to present on waste management solutions, services they offer to municipalities, and how to provide community support.
ecomaine's Presentation Slides
Apparel Impact's Presentation Slides
Department of Environmental Protection's Presentation Slides
In the second session, KVCOG invited Natalie Burns, Jensen Baird Attorney, to present on consequences on municipal zoning, home rule, and affordable housing initiatives, statewide housing production goals, and increasing housing opportunities, along with two of the housing coordinators from MDECD to provide insight into the implementation of LD 2003.
Phillip Saucier & Natalie Burn's Presentation Slides
In the third session, KVCOG invited Tracy Kelley, PFAS and Emerging Contaminants Public Service Coordinator, from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to present on Maine's statewide PFAS evaluation/investigation and tools that the DEP has to offer to the public.
Tracy Kelley's Presentation Slides
KVCOG Receives $1 million in Brownfields Funding
Kennebec Valley Council of Governments (KVCOG) announces its receipt of a $1 million Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund grant from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. The award makes it possible for KVCOG to assist communities and developers with clean-up funds for sites that have evidence of contamination. KVCOG was one of several Maine grantees that received a total of $19.7 million in Brownfields grants.
KVCOG’s award represents the continued work with the agency’s partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and the municipalities in Kennebec, Somerset, and western Waldo counties that KVCOG serves. In the past KVCOG has received other RLF loan funding as well as assessment money. The agency will now be able to offer loans at low interest rates to developers of Brownfields sites and a combination of grants and loans to communities that own such sites.
On Thursday January 20th, 2022, Madison Town Manager and KVCOG Board President Tim Curtis joined Governor Janet Mills for the ground breaking ceremony at the former Madison Mill. Now the site of GO Lab Inc.'s TimberHP operation. GO Lab was the recipient of a $300,000 loan from KVCOG, helping bring forward this new era of manufacturing in Madison. Read More in the article HERE.
We are immensely proud of everything that we and our member communities have accomplished. You can read about our work, our region, and the people behind KVCOG.
It's time to plan your visit to the Kennebec Valley! Thanks to the Kennebec Valley Explorer/Visit Kennebec Valley for producing this amazing video. See more of this content and plan your trip to the Kennebec Valley on their website.
Kennebec Valley Council of Governments (KVCOG) is a private, non-profit organization established in 1967. KVCOG is a membership organization and is owned and operated for the benefit of its members. The Council of Governments is enabled by state statue. The office is located in Fairfield, Maine and serves Kennebec, Somerset and western Waldo Counties.
KVCOG provides a coordinated approach for planning and economic development at the local and regional level. KVCOG has been a leader in economic development, environmental, land use and transportation planning with a wide array of professional talent among staff for the past 50 years.
The Kennebec Valley region is connected by the Kennebec River. It covers 62 municipalities, several unorganized territories and 5,251 square miles with a population of approximately 182,000. It includes the state capital of Augusta as well as other cities including Waterville, Gardiner and Hallowell and many rural towns. Municipal population ranges from 42 to 18,972.