Applications
The Maine Coastal Program and Municipal Planning Assistance Program regret to announce that funding for the Shore and Harbor Planning Grant and Coastal Community Grant programs will not be available for Fiscal Year 2026. Consequently, a grant round for these programs will not be conducted this year.
While the current fiscal landscape presents general uncertainties, this decision does not directly result from external funding cuts but stems from internal budget realignments within the Maine Coastal Program. Although administered as state grants, they are federally funded through NOAA. This federal funding source introduces specific requirements and considerations regarding matching funds and program guidelines.
The Maine Coastal Program and Municipal Planning Assistance Program remain committed to supporting coastal communities and intend to pursue funding opportunities in future fiscal years. We understand the importance of these programs and appreciate your understanding and continued partnership.
We wish to bring to your attention the Community Resilience Partnership’s Community Action Grant as a potential funding alternative. For information regarding the Community Resilience Partnership’s Community Action Grant, please visit the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, Grant and Technical Assistance Opportunities page. We would like to encourage all eligible entities to explore this alternative funding opportunity.
Program Goals
The Shore and Harbor Planning Grant program 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.
For an example of a vulnerability assessment and resilience planning project for working waterfront infrastructure, see the Penobscot Bay Vulnerability Assessment and Resilience Planning Draft Summary report at: Publications | Department of Marine Resources (maine.gov)
FY 2025 Grantees
- Blue Hill: Sea level rise and storm resilient public wharf design
- Chebeague Island: Understanding and mitigating coastal erosion in Casco Bay’s Island Communities
- Jonesport: Henry Point working waterfront
- Kittery: Pepperrell Cove working waterfront resiliency assessment
- Monhegan Island: Resilient redevelopment of Monhegan Island’s public wharf
- Vinalhaven: Vinalhaven working waterfront infrastructure preliminary design and engineering report
Example Projects, Maps, and Funding Summary
Example projects and additional information about funded projects starting in Fiscal Year 2011
Map of funded towns
More Information
- This technical assistance program has been in continuous operation since 2000.
- For more information, please contact Melissa Britsch.