MCOG Monthly Newsletter

Jan 2024

Dear all,

 

We hope you find this newsletter useful as there are many items. As always, feel free to reach out with any questions.

 
Our Website

A Message from the Executive Director   

MCOG recognizes the devastating impacts of the two recent storms and extends gratitude for the ways in which the Midcoast region has come together over such tragedies.

 

How is MCOG responding to the storms of January 10 and 13? 

  

Helping our member communities become more resilient to climate change by planning and preparing for catastrophic weather events, which are occurring with greater frequency and at greater cost. 

 

  • Mapping vulnerable areas and infrastructure. 

  • Assisting St. George with a pilot vulnerability study to measure the impacts of climate change on the fishing industry. 

  • Collaborating with the Island Institute and others to develop a strategy to protect our working waterfronts, particularly infrastructure upon which our coastal communities and businesses depend. 

   

While MEMA and our County partners will continue to lead disaster recovery efforts, MCOG can help our member communities and businesses navigate the relief funding resources that are available. 

 

  • MCOG has submitted an application to EDA to develop a plan for streams and river crossings in Knox and Waldo Counties.

  • Direct Midcoast businesses to US Small Business Administration (SBA) and other sources of disaster loans for physical damage and economic injury. 

  • Continue to work with our member communities and resource partners to develop and deploy federal and state disaster planning resources. For example, MCOG has led discussions with our fellow Economic Development Districts and EDA to develop disaster impact plans that will benefit both coastal and inland communities throughout the Midcoast. 

Congressionally Directed Spending and Community Project Funding Workshops 

MCOG, LCRPC, and HCPC are partnering to host two workshops in the first week of February that will include Congressional delegation staff members from the offices of Senator Collins, Senator King, Representative Pingree, and Representative Golden. The purpose of these workshops will be to discuss the Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) and Community Project Funding (CPF) as well as best practices for interested applicants. These workshops are highly advised for municipal leaders and nonprofit organizations. Both workshops will have options to attend in-person and remotely, and both meetings will be recorded for those who are unable to attend either meeting. 

  

Please note that our guest speakers will be able to answer questions about previous years processes, eligibility guidelines, and best practices. However, guest may not be able to speak to this coming year's process as work continues to be conducted in Washington D.C. on the current year's appropriations bills. 

  

We ask that parties RSVP by emailing to at least one of the individuals below, especially if they plan to attend one of the workshops in-person: 

Maxwell Johnstone (Midcoast Council of Governments): mjohnstone@midcoastcog.com 

Emily Rabbe (Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission): erabbe@lcrpc.org 

Averi Varney (Hancock County Planning Commission): avarney@hcpcme.org 

  

The first workshop will be held on February 7, 2024, at the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission office at 297 Bath Road in Wiscasset starting at 2:00pm. Click here to attend via zoom. 

  

The second workshop will be held on February 8, 2024, at the Searsport Town Hall at 1 Union Street starting at 6:00pm. Click here to attend via zoom. 

  

Below are links to each of the Maine Congressional delegation offices, with examples of projects they have supported through the federal appropriations process in previous years: 

  

Senator Collins: FY 2024 Appropriations Requests and Congressionally Directed Spending | About the Committee | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations 

Senator King: Investing in Maine (senate.gov) and https://www.king.senate.gov/cds 

Representative Golden: Community Project Funding - Requested Projects | Representative Jared Golden (house.gov) 

Representative Pingree: Community Project Funding | U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree (house.gov) 

Cooperative Purchasing

This is a reminder that all estimate needs for cooperative purchasing is now open for interested communities and counties. Below is a table that includes the due dates and links for different products/services that are available this year. For February, Catch Basin Cleaning, Road Striping, Heating Fuels, and Transportation Fuel needs are due.

 

Please note that the table below is an image. The links for each Bid Product can be found at this website: https://www.gpcog.org/161/Cooperative-Purchasing 

 

 

 

 

Please send an email to Max Johnstone (mjohnstone@midcoastcog.com) with any questions.  

Funding Available for Housing Plans

The State of Maine, Department of Economic and Community Development (Department) is seeking applications for municipal grants as defined in this Request for Application (RFA). Municipal grants are grants to municipalities for community housing planning and implementation services to support the creation of housing development plans, including municipal ordinances, and policy amendments to support those plans.

The Housing Opportunity Program, as described in 5 M.R.S. § 13056-J, provides grants and assistance to municipalities to encourage and support the development of additional housing units in the State, including housing units that are affordable for low-income and moderate-income individuals, and targeted to community workforce housing needs. The program focuses on technical and financial assistance to municipalities implementing zoning and land use-related policies necessary to support increased housing development.

An information session will be held on February 13th at 11am.

Location: Virtual Webinar (Zoom) Please use the link below to join the webinar: https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/87030962132pwd=VktlYVZTQ1dMTGJMSTNBdkwycHB4UT09

Click here for more information

 Hemlock Wooly Adelgids

Some communities have been witnessing the invasive species, Hemlock Wooly Adelgids (HWA), starting to make their way into their forests. The natural predator beetles that can provide an eco-friendly way of combatting are available now for orders, and we are seeing if any of our members may be interested in participating in a bulk purchase. 

  

Please send an email to Max Johnstone (mjohnstone@midcoastcog.com) for any questions or more information. 

New Datasets

MCOG has released the first round of data in our Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) process. The datasets are in Story Map form and focus on Demographics and Housing in our region. The two topics fall under the category of Measures of Community Sustainability. Our next Story Maps will be Measures of Business and Workforce Sustainability and Measures of Public Infrastructure and Natural Resource Sustainability. You can view the latest Story Maps and read more about the CEDS process on our website.

CEDS Data Page

NBRC Funding Schedule

Schedule of upcoming information sessions for Northern Border Regional Commission funding opportunities: (Note: Only applicants located in Knox County and Waldo Counties are eligible for NBRC funding.) 

  

NBRC Overview of 2024 Programs: Catalyst, Forest Economy, and Timber for Transit 

February 5, 2024, at 1:00-2:30pm

Registration Required: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88959821459?pwd=dzBSTExBMGVsbUpxRzA5MWpCUzhSdz09 

 

Catalyst Program 

February 8, 2024 at 11:00-12:30 –  ($50 million to be awarded in 2024 in 2 rounds) 

Registration Required: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpcO6tpzoiE9Hx1B8mYrECgRuce1vWcUpM 

 

Forest Economy Program  

February 12, 2024, at 1:00-2:00 

Registration Required: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMkcu-vqDIrE9Mac1ErvKFmXTHKMybt1Hja 

February 13, 2024, at 10:00-11:00 

Registration Required: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAuce2urjgoE9Z_ybBODFPsjOYPw5XvT_Sc 

 

Timber for Transit Program

($25 million available over three years.)  

February 12, 2024, at 2:00-3:00 

Registration Required: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMkcu-vqDIrE9Mac1ErvKFmXTHKMybt1Hja 

February 13, 2024, at 9:00-10:00 

Registration Required: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAuce2urjgoE9Z_ybBODFPsjOYPw5XvT_Sc  

 

Pre-applications (formerly Letters of Interest) for all three programs must be submitted to NBRC by March 15, 2024. 

Maine Shoreside Charging Infrastructure Roundtables 

The Island Institute is hosting a series of regional roundtable discussions focusing on the future of shoreside electrification in Maine's Working Waterfronts. With recent technical innovations in marine electric and hybrid propulsion, electrified powertrains for marine applications will soon become available for virtually every commercial and recreational marine vessel use case in Maine. Now is the time to prepare for what may become a major economic development challenge with significant climate change mitigation potential! In order to accomplish this, we're bringing experts in power distribution, working waterfront stakeholders, and local/regional planners together to share ideas, discuss opportunities, and elevate this issue in the working waterfront development discussion. We would welcome your participation and expertise! 

  

MCOG members and stakeholders may be interested in the following roundtable sessions: 

Rockland (covering Woolwich to Castine) - Monday February 12, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm @ The Island Institute 

Portland (covering Kittery to Bath) - Tuesday February 13, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm @ The New England Ocean Cluster 

  

Lunch will be provided - RSVP required (click here) 

Working Waterfront Forum Held in St. George 

A panel of fishermen, and oyster and kelp growers shared how the recent heavy storms impacted their operations and their perspectives on challenges and opportunities ahead. They were joined by others in the community connected to marine industries as well as select board members, non-profit representatives, and residents. The forum, hosted by MCOG and the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, underscored the significance of fishing and aquaculture in the community, and identified several issues to address collaboratively, including: 

  • Recent heavy storms are a “wake-up call.” Panelists and audience members noted that there have been enough warning signs over the years, and they need to do better in preparing for sea level rise and heavier storms as a “new normal.”  

  • Loss of waterfront access. The number of commercial wharves is diminishing due to changes in fish stocks, unrepaired damage and private purchases. Overland access is also in jeopardy as traditional access can be denied when property changes ownership. Clammers are especially impacted.  

  • Several factors pose challenges for aquaculture. Department of Environmental Protection permitting process is challenging, and there is a backlog at the state level to approve permits. There is a long lead time to get a successful oyster farm running, and the industry lacks infrastructure to bring product to market so those tasks fall to the farmers themselves.  

  • Harvesters need a diversity of skills to succeed. “It’s not the wild west…. you can’t just jump in a boat” and go fishing. Today, harvesters need to understand fisheries management, changing licensing and regulatory requirements, changing stocks, and evolving markets.  

  • Eat seafood! A great way to contribute to the local economy is by being mindful of the origin of your seafood and opting for local options.  

  • Regulations play a significant role: Commercial fishing industry is one of the most heavily regulated sectors of American businesses, surpassing even the oil and gas industry and pharmaceuticals in the number of regulations. 

  • Bright Prospects for the Future: Despite the challenges ahead, panelists and audience members are optimistic about exploring multi-species farming that goes beyond oysters, incorporating sea urchins and other commercially viable species, there are positive signs of recovery in ground fishing stock, and there will always be something to harvest from the ocean.  

     

The forum was part of MCOG’s St. George Working Waterfront Study, funded by Maine Coastal Program grant from NOAA. 

Brooks Identifies Resilience Priorities

The Town of Brooks’ Community Resilience Committee hosted a Community Potluck on Sunday, January 28th to discuss community needs and priorities related to community resilience. Attended by over 30 residents, the potluck consisted of small discussion groups, a presentation on the town’s community resilience work to date, and, of course, good food and company! Discussion highlighted residents’ desire for better avenues for communication between the town and residents, interventions that address stormwater, flooding, and runoff, as well as increasing the town’s walk and bike-ability. This event was held as part of Brooks’ enrollment in the Community Resilience Partnership through the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. Enrolling in the Community Resilience Partnership will qualify the town for $50,000 grants for community-driven projects related to community resilience priorities established through Maine Won’t Wait: the State’s climate action plan. The information gathered at this event, as well as through a town-wide survey put out by the Community Resilience Committee, will help the committee and select board develop a $50,000 project for the upcoming Community Action Grant round this March.

 

Interested in enrolling your town in the Community Resilience Partnership? MCOG is available to help your town enroll at no cost – please reach out to our Community Resilience Planner Meg Rasmussen mrasmussen@midcoastcog.com for more information.

 

Click here to learning more about the Community Resilience Partnership.

MCOG Involvement with the Working Waterfront Coalition 

Community Planner Dan DeBord has been serving as MCOG’s representative to a statewide Working Waterfront Coalition. At the latest meeting of the coalition on January 31st, two highlight topics of conversation emerged: 

  

  • In the wake of the January 10th and 13th storms, Governor Mills announced in her recent State of the State address that she would be proposing in her upcoming budget to invest $50 million from the state’s Rainy Day Fund in the Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund. This fund can be used for a number of infrastructure adaptation project categories, including projects related to working waterfront infrastructure (https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-resilience-resolve-maine-people-makes-state-state-strong-2024-01-30) 

  • Two working waterfront support related bills have hearings coming up in February 

  • LD 2162 An Act Regarding the Homestead Property Tax Exemption and the Property Value Reassessment Process  

  • Hearing on Feb 7, 1pm, State House, Rm 127  

  • LD 2191 An Act to Provide Relief to Small Businesses Affected by Severe Weather-related Events  

  • Hearing on Feb 13, 1pm, Cross Building, Rm 206 

Know someone who may be interested in this newsletter?

 
They can sign up here!

Thanks for reading!

The MCOG Team

Mathew Eddy, Brian Dancause, Meg Rasmussen, Max Johnstone, Adi Philson, Dan DeBord, and Charlotte Nutt

165 Main St, Damariscotta, ME, USA
(207) 209-4129

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