KVCOG can provide technical assistance for these, and other grant projects of interest to your municipality. For assistance, please reach out to Jessie Cyr at or (207) 453-4258, Ext 220
- Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program- USDA
- Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
- Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) Forest Economy Program Grant
- Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) SEID Grant
- Shore and Harbor Planning Grants
- Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Projects Grant
- Coastal Community Planning Grant Programs
- Stream Crossing Grants - Maine DEP
- Community Broadband Startup and Planning Grants - ConnectME
Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program-USDA
This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.
Read more about the program at the USDA Website.
For additional information for areas within:
Kennebec County: Jessie L. Archer, Area Specialist (207) 753-9400
Somerset County: Nathan Persinger, Area Specialist (207) 900-3676
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
The following programs are available to Maine Communities and in certain instances, Counties through the Office of Community Development. For specific information on applications dates and program eligible activities, refer to the individual application packages and the current Program Statement.
| Program | Letter of Intent Due By | Application Due By |
| Downtown Revitalization | January 27, 2023 | March 10, 2023 |
| Economic Development | July 1, 2023 | Per Invitation |
| Housing Assistance | March 24, 2023 | May 19, 2023 |
| Public Infrastructure | N/A | N/A |
| Public Service | March 24, 2023 | May 5, 2023 |
| Community Enterprise | February 24, 2023 | April 14, 2023 |
| Special Projects/Urgent Need | TBD | TBD |
Full program descriptions and application materials are available on the Maine DECD website.
Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC)
2023 Forest Economy Program (FEP)
Approximately $7 MM is available for the 4-state NBRC Region, up to a $1,000,000 maximum award to eligible projects. The purpose of this program is to support the forest-based economy, and to assist in the industry’s evolution to include new technologies and viable business models across the 4-state NBRC region.
Spring 2023 Application Timeline
Forest Economy Program Information Sessions January/February 2023
Letters of Interest (required) March 10 by 5pm EST
Responses to LOIs including invitations to apply Week of April 3rd
Applications Due (by invite only) April 28 by 5pm EST
NBRC Selection Meeting June 2023
NBRC notice of awards & notice to unsuccessful applicants By June 30
Fall 2023 Application Timeline
Forest Economy Program Information Sessions July/August 2023
Letters of Interest (required) Sept. 15 by 5pm EST
Responses to LOIs including invitations to apply Week of October 10th
Applications Due (by invite only) Nov. 3 by 5pm EST
NBRC Selection Meeting January 2024
NBRC notice of awards & notice to unsuccessful applicants By January 31, 2024
Visit NBRC's website for more information.
Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC)
2023 State Economic & Infrastructure Development (SEID) Investment Program
Approximately $4.6 MM for each state, up to a $1,000,000 maximum award to eligible infrastructure projects, up to a $350,000 maximum award for all other types of eligible projects. All funds are in the form of reimbursement for eligible expenses incurred after a Notice to Proceed has been fully executed. Maine's program area includes Androscoggin, Aroostook, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo, and Washington counties.
2022 Grant Awards Announced on August 24, 2022.
2023 Grant Materials Anticipated Dates:
- Materials available on NBRC Website: TBD March 2023
- Letters of Interest Due By: TBD Late March 2023
- Application portal open: TBD April 2023
- Applications Due By: TBD May 2023
Visit NBRC's website for full timeline and more information.
Shore and Harbor Planning Grants
The Shore and Harbor Planning Grant Program supports municipal and regional projects in Maine’s Coastal Zone. This provides resources on a competitive basis for shoreline access planning, waterfront and harbor planning, identification and resolution of waterfront use conflicts, and planning, feasibility, and design efforts for resilient waterfront infrastructure. Shore and Harbor Planning Grant projects are often well prepared to compete for construction funding through other sources. Information pertaining to the next round of funding (Fiscal Year 2024) will be available in February 2023.
View more details about the Shore and Harbor Planning Grant Program on the State of Maine Department of Marine Resources page here.
Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Projects
Watershed-Based Plan Development (Maine DEP)
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) administers Nonpoint Source (NPS) grants to help communities make progress restoring or protecting waters named as NPS Priority Watersheds. Click here to view the Nonpoint Source Priority Watersheds List.
NPS grants are available to:
- Implement a watershed-based plan.
A DEP-accepted and active (i.e. not expired) plan is a prerequisite to be eligible to submit a proposal for an implementation grant. List of DEP-accepted active and expired plans with the respective plan expiration dates - Develop a watershed-based plan.
A plan provides assessment and management information and describes actions needed to restore NPS-impaired water bodies or protect water bodies threatened by NPS pollution.
Grants for projects are funded with monies provided to DEP by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Section 319(h) or Section 604(b) of the Clean Water Act.
Applications and all related materials for the next round are anticipated in March of 2023 and will be made available on the DEP Website.
Coastal Community Planning Grant Programs
The Coastal Community Planning Grants opportunity for FY23 was announced on September 8, 2022.
The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's Municipal Planning Assistance Program (MPAP) is seeking applications for a new round of Coastal Community Grants (CCG). FY23 CCG details and the program statement are found on the MPAP website. CCG applications are due Friday, October 14, 2022, by 5:00 pm.
Open to counties, municipalities, unorganized territories, tribal governments, and Regional Planning Organizations in Maine's coastal zone, CCG competitive grants include projects in Maine's coastal zone with a focus on the following priority coastal issues, as identified by the Maine Coastal Program and the Maine Climate Council's Maine Won't Wait: A Four-Year Plan for Climate Action
CCGs are an important element of the MPAP mission to foster innovative and effective approaches to land use management by providing technical and financial assistance to Maine municipalities.
The Municipal Planning Assistance Program anticipates making multiple CCG awards ranging from $20,000 to $50,000. Total funds available for the FY 2023 program are approximately $150,000. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides funding for these grants in cooperation with the Maine Department of Marine Resources Maine Coastal Program.
This CCG statement is being released to coincide with the second round of Community Action Grants from the Community Resilience Partnership in the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. CCG applicants are encouraged to examine opportunities for coordinating these two grant programs to maximize project scope and efficiencies. As non-federal funding, CCGs provide an eligible match for the federal Coastal Community Grant opportunity.
Applications are due: October 14, 2022 no later than 5:00 p.m.
View the grant program statement and more information on MPAP's website.
Stream Crossing Grants- Maine DEP
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has announced $3 million dollars in available grant funding to be awarded in a single round through a 2022 Request For Applications (RFA). These funds support the DEP's competitive grant program that assists municipalities with culvert upgrades and replacements at stream crossings. Maximum grant funding is $150,000 per project and only 2 proposals may be awarded per municipality. Proposed projects must be located on municipal roads and involve upgrades of culverts at stream crossings to improve public safety and minimize flooding, improve habitat for fish and wildlife, and represent a cost effective and efficient investment. Eligible project applicants include local governments, municipal conservation commissions, soil and water conservation districts, and private nonprofit organizations.
The grant RFA is available starting August 18, 2022, with proposals due by November 2, 2022. The application, numerous design resources, videos, and detailed scoring guidance are available on the DEP website.
To help municipalities and others involved with these projects better understand the grant program and requirements, Maine DEP (in partnership with Maine Audubon, MaineDOT, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Maine Land Use Planning Commission) has produced four online guidance videos to help potential applicants understand the grant program and provide basic information regarding stream crossing regulations, installation, and design. Click here to bring you to the 2022 Stream Crossing Grant Video(s).
For additional information, contact: John Maclaine, Non-Point Source Training Coordinator
(207) 615-3278
Community Broadband "Connect The Ready" Grants - Maine Connectivity Authority
The Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) "Connect the Ready" has announced its 2022 competitive grant round of $20 million for the fall application window. This is round is to encourage proactive partnerships and collaborative efforts to design, fund, and build broadband infrastructure projects in eligible areas. Detailed Program Guidance and applications will be released September 23, 2022 and are due by November 9, 2022.
The program will optimize broadband deployment in mostly unserved communities and encourage projects that will expand universal broadband service throughout large un(der)served areas.
Eligible applicants are public & private partners: internet service providers, or broadband utility districts, and other governmental entities that have chosen ISP partners. Projects should occur in partnership with communities that are ready to be connected by the proposed project.
Read more at the Maine Connectivity Authority website.
For additional information, contact: Stephenie MacLagan, Maine Connectivity Authority
(207) 200-3197
