Funding
Grant Writing & Administration
With the cost and complexity of municipal projects ever increasing, MCOG staff are prepared to help you organize your needs for resources. MCOG can assist you through the process of project development, structuring the program in a way that will secure future funding support. Following that, MCOG can assist in grant writing, and/or administration. Today's funding strategy requires advanced planning, multiple resources, and a commitment to schedules: MCOG can assist you in these endeavors.
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Staff contact: Adi Philson, aphilson@midcoastcog.com.
Funding Opportunities
The following list is not comprehensive. If you have a specific funding need, please contact us for assistance.
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Federal
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law​
US Department of Transportation
US Department of Commerce; Economic Development Agency Grants - as the EDA-designated economic development district for Midcoast Maine, MCOG administers EDA grants for the region.
US Environmental Protection Agency (Brownfield Grants)
National Endowment of the Arts
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State
Maine Land & Water Conservation Fund
Community Resilience Program - Community Action Grants
Community Development Block Grants
Maine Department of Transportation
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Maine Economic Recovery Grants
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Regional
Northern Borders Regional Commission (applies to Waldo County for 2023)
Municipal Funding Mechanisms
Several tools are available at the municipal level to help set aside money for upcoming town needs. MCOG works with towns to establish short and long-term funding plans for town projects. Examples include:​
Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
A TIF is an economic tool for a municipality to leverage new value from up to 5% of their community fund capital improvement projects in their community. This program does not require any property taxes to be given back to the private developer unless the community creates a Credit Enhancement Agreement (CEA). Towns have used these funds to provide a local match for grants, improve boat landings and parking lots, fund child care programs and scholarship programs for students getting into trades, and revitalization efforts in their downtowns. A municipality may establish a TIF program to last as long as 30 years and may amend their program at any time as long as the process follows the Maine statute.
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Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
A Capital Improvement Projects Plan is a guidance document for municipalities to consider their unavoidable short-term and long-term expenses. Examples include road maintenance, vehicle purchases, constructing new municipal structures, and culverts. MCOG can work with your municipality to keep an updated plan with updated estimates for addressing capital improvement needs so towns are able to budget the expenses accordingly during the annual budget season, and to seek outside financial assistance when the opportunity arises.
Questions?
Give us a call or an email so we can discuss with you how we can provide these services.