About Us

The Municipal Planning Assistance Program (MPAP) provides land use planning expertise for Maine citizens, municipalities, regional planning organizations, state agencies and the Legislature, and promotes growth management principles in state and local policies, programs, regulations and investments by:

Providing technical and financial assistance

MPAP provides technical and financial assistance including: model ordinances and other guidance documents; workshops and webinars; one-on-one technical support; planning data; training for local officials; annual grants to regional planning organizations and competitive grants for specific planning projects.

Coordinating with state agencies

MPAP works with agencies across state government to assure that their policies and programs align with and support state land-use policies. We accomplish this through participation on interagency working groups, grant review committees and advisory boards. Comments that we solicit as part of our review of proposed comprehensive plans also helps assure that the missions and policies of our partner agencies are appropriately reflected in local plans.

Implementing Maine's Growth Management Act

Through the Growth Management Act's review and certification process, MPAP guides local authorities in the development of comprehensive plans and land-use ordinances that are tailored to the needs of the individual community and consistent with state land-use policies.