SUSTAINABILITY
Eleven coastal communities team up to
mitigate flooding caused by the climate crisis
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has awarded GPCOG $250,000 in funding to protect coastal communities. GPCOG has raised an additional $250,000 in matching funds from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, foundation grants and municipal participation.

The Communities: Brunswick, Freeport, Falmouth, Cumberland, Yarmouth, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Portland, South Portland, Chebeague Island and Long Island will be working on a two year project to find nature based solutions to mitigate coastal flooding.

What’s involved? The two-year project aims to engage people whose livelihoods are affected by coastal flooding and help community volunteers, municipal staff, elected officials and community leaders plan for nature-based solutions to flooding.

Why it matters: The Casco Bay watershed is home to 20 percent of Maine's population. Participants will learn about data collection and analysis, research and best practices so they can develop projects that are ready to be designed and implemented.

Metro Regional Coalition calls for a regional response to the growing homelessness population
The News: GPCOG's Metro Regional Coalition wrote letters of support to Cumberland County commissioners asking them to approve funding for regional initiatives focused on the growing homelessness population in Portland and South Portland.

Cumberland County is receiving $57.3 million in funding through the American Rescue Act. The MRC is supporting requests by the cities of Portland and South Portland to allocate a portion of that money towards a planned homeless shelter in Portland and for health care, language interpreting and security services at four hotels in South Portland, where Portland has been housing hundreds of shelter clients since the pandemic began.

Why it matters: Coalition communities see homelessness as a regional issue that should be addressed comprehensively.

Let's congratulate our region's
newly elected officials!
................................................................................................................Portland Press Herald photo
GPCOG is excited to welcome 15 newly elected officials from Cape Elizabeth, Freeport, Portland, South Portland, Casco, Scarborough, Windham, Biddeford and Old Orchard Beach.

Our Welcome & Congrats! reception has been moved to our Annual Summit in May. We're looking forward to celebrating our newly elected officials in the spring!
TRANSPORTATION
PACTS Policy Board adopts vision for
improving our region's transportation system
The News: The PACTS Policy Board has adopted the Connect2045 Vision & Goals, which set the tone for regional transportation investments over the next 25 years. Thank you to the public, the Connect2045 Advisory Committee, key stakeholders, and the GPCOG project team for their collective efforts in shaping the vision and goals.
 
Why it matters: The Vision & Goals statement is an important step in the creation of a long-term plan towards a safer, more accessible, affordable and sustainable transportation system.


2022 CDBG County Applications are now available
The applications are available on the County's CDBG Applicant Information page.

Important dates: 
  • Dec. 2, 1:30 PM: Program and Application Workshop
  • Dec. 15, 4:00 PM: Pre-Applications Due
  • Dec. 20: Receipt of Approval to Submit Application
  • Jan. 20, 4:00 PM: Final Applications Due
SIGN UP FOR NOTIFICATIONS
Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG)
970 Baxter Boulevard
Suite 201
Portland, ME 04103
Phone: 207-774-9891
Connect with us