SMPDC Awarded National Grant to Improve Coastal Resilience
SMPDC received a $130,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Coastal Resilience Fund to develop the first regional coastal resilience plan for southern Maine. The Plan will present nature-based solutions for making the region more resilient to coastal hazards, building off of SMPDC’s continued efforts to assist our towns with preparing for and adapting to climate change.
Electric Vehicles for Municipal Fleets: Lunch and Learn
Join us for a virtual discussion of how Southern Maine municipalities are incorporating Electric Vehicles into their municipal fleets. Bring your questions and see whether an EV could work in your department!

December 14, 12:30pm - 2:00pm

Register here, and see the agenda on our website!
Helping Revitalize Fryeburg Outdoor Recreation
The town of Fryeburg, SMPDC and the Fryeburg Business Association wrapped up a weeklong series of workshop sessions which focused on revitalizing downtown Fryeburg to highlight its outdoor recreation assets. The engaging and collaborative sessions included local stakeholders, community members and federal and state partners.
Maine Climate Action Plan features SMPDC
Our sustainability and resilience Team, Abbie Sherwin, Senior Planner and Coastal Resilience Coordinator and Karina Graeter, Sustainability Coordinator are featured in Maine's


COVID-19 Economic Recovery Efforts
Maine Economic Recovery Grant Program
SMPDC is in the process of disbursing 500+ checks to businesses and non-profits across our region through the Maine Economic Recovery Grant Program. The Phase II application period ended on October 29th, culminating in a total of approximately $30 million in grants to struggling organizations. As disbursement wraps, we will provide regional statistics of this funds impact.
Three funds still available:
As part of the funds Maine received from the federal CARES Act for the Community Development Block (CDBG) program, grants of up to $5,000 are available for small businesses that experienced a revenue loss as a direct consequence of COVID-19. 

We have received $1.4 million in Cares Act funds from the Economic Development Administration to provide loans to eligible businesses with flexible terms and low interest rates to meet their financing needs. These funds must be used for pandemic related costs, economic recovery efforts and to sustain organizations in their pandemic efforts.

This last installment of State of Maine CARES Act funding attributes $40 million to businesses in select sectors, most impacted by the pandemic. Grants are first come, first served at a maximum of $20,000. Businesses must pay sales tax to be eligible.
SMPDC a Resource to Towns Approving Solar
Solar projects come with their own set of concerns and Planning Director Lee Jay Feldman is helping towns navigate the review process.

Sustainability Coordinator Karina Graeter works to educate municipalities throughout the state about the advantages of solar development and how to bring these projects to the region.
SMPDC in the News
King Tide Shows Impacts of Sea Level Rise
King Tides can range from 2 to 4 feet above mean high water, causing localized flooding, disturbances to roadways, and impacts to storm water systems: providing a glimpse of what our coastline could look like with sea level rise.

Do you have images of how the King Tide impacted your town or city?
Send them to Coastal Resilience Coordinator, Abbie Sherwin.
Southern Maine Planning & Development Commission | Website