Read on for important updates, resources, and more! | | Updated Legislative Fact Sheet, Training Recording Now Available | | |
Our newest legislative fact sheet covers LD 1829 and LD 2173, including a checklist for municipalities and ordinance amendment process.
We covered this and other relevant legislation at our recent training on changes to Maine’s housing laws and implications for municipal implementation, held in partnership with the Maine Office of Community Affairs.
Municipal officials, board and committee members, planners, builders, and community members from across the region joined us to learn about LD 1829, LD 2173, LD 997, and LD 427, including how these legislative changes interact with existing LD 2003 requirements, followed by a Q&A. Thank you to the Town of Hollis for hosting. A recording of the training is now available.
| | | Maine Land Use Law Books Available | | |
It's not too late to order your 2026 Maine Land Use Law Book!
The Maine Land Use Law Book is a 5x7 reference handbook including excerpts of Maine State law relevant to land use planning, zoning, and local regulation. It is a great tool for planners, planning boards, and other municipal staff. This edition is current through the last legislative session of the 132nd Legislature, which adjourned in April.
| | | | Transportation Services Reminder | | SMPDC offers transportation technical assistance to all municipalities in our region at no cost, thanks to funding provided by MaineDOT. SMPDC can provide assistance as funding is available, or by service fee. Check out the PDF below for a full menu of services. | | | Questions? Interested in transportation assistance? Contact Dean Williams, Transportation Division Director, via email or at 207-571-7065. | | | New state initiative to support communities with flood planning & mitigation | | |
Flood Ready Maine is a new initiative of the Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA)’s State Resilience Office that provides resources to communities to understand local flood risks and take action to protect property and prevent flood damage.
Flood Ready Maine expands the technical assistance opportunities currently offered to municipalities by the State of Maine’s Floodplain Management Program to improve state-wide resilience to flooding, including:
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The creation of permanent regional floodplain manager positions at each of Maine’s 10 regional councils, responsible for helping communities administer local floodplain ordinances and implement local flood risk reduction projects
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Development of a new, online hub for flood maps, sea level rise maps, climate risk data, and guidance for local flood mitigation efforts
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Ongoing training and professional education opportunities for flood risk management in local communities
Laura Berry, SMPDC Sustainability and Resilience Senior Planner, will serve as Regional Floodplain Manager for the 39 member municipalities within SMPDC’s region. More information and resources will be shared in the coming weeks regarding resources and program offerings available to SMPDC municipalities.
Questions about Flood Ready Maine? Learn more on MOCA’s website or email Laura Berry.
| | | Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast expands catchment area into southern Maine | | |
The Workforce Housing Coalition is a non-partisan, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization working to advance diverse housing options by engaging municipalities, elevating employer voices, and informing policy conversations so everyone who works on the greater seacoast can call it home.
WHC has recently expanded into southern York County, and are looking forward to strengthening relationships along the Maine seacoast and their partnership with SMPDC. Guided by their new strategic plan, WHC is positioning itself as a go-to resource for municipal leaders and decisionmakers as they identify, plan for, and navigate local housing challenges.
The Workforce Housing Coalition’s mission is actualized through four pillars:
- Municipal technical assistance
- Employer voice and business engagement
- Education and coalition building
- Advocacy support
Through town-specific presentations, participation with municipal committees, and regional events, WHC has grown a strong network across the seacoast. The regional housing shortage is complicated, and the Workforce Housing Coalition is here to help.
Reach out to info@seacoastwhc.org with questions or ideas. You can also keep up with WHC by subscribing to their monthly newsletter.
| | | SMPDC continues partnership with Wells Reserve, improving coastal resilience GIS tools | | |
Earlier this month, our sustainability division partnered with the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve to launch a new project aimed at updating and improving access to spatial data tools for climate vulnerability and resilience decision-making.
SMPDC and the Wells Reserve have partnered several times over the years to develop tools intended to support municipalities with prioritizing areas of highest vulnerability to sea level rise and coastal hazards, and support them in finding solutions. These include:
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The Climate Ready Coast web mapper and Story Map, which included assessments of infrastructure, property and natural resource vulnerability to identify over 30 areas of interest along the York County coastline; and
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The Nature-based Strategies Decision Support Tool, which assessed factors like slope, tides, orientation and land cover to rank the suitability of shoreline for various nature-based strategies for resilience.
SMPDC will be offering more technical assistance opportunities over the next several months to support communities looking to use the tools, and apply them to their local concerns.
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Local Project Spotlight:
South Berwick Active Transportation Plan
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South Berwick’s Active Transportation Plan was unanimously approved by the Town Council on August 11! The recommendations included in the plan are designed to make South Berwick a more walkable and bike-friendly community and enhance the quality of life for its 7,500 residents.
The plan includes recommended projects and conceptual designs within South Berwick, as well as recommended implementation of off-road segments of the Eastern Trail to better link the town to adjacent communities. We are proud to have supported this project through the KACTS MPO in coordination with the project consultant team at VHB.
| | | New! Maine Association of Regional Councils | | |
The new Maine Association of Regional Councils (MARC) is a collaboration among all the regional councils in Maine, providing a coordinated voice on statewide planning, community development, housing, transportation, climate resilience, and municipal support issues.
Visit the new website to see news and updates and information about priorities and current activities. The site will also serve as a hub for Maine residents and municipalities to quickly find the regional council that represents them.
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Historic Community Buildings Grant Program (Round 2) – Maine Historic Preservation Commission
The HCBG Program funds construction projects for preservation or restoration of historic community buildings, funded by a $10 million dollar bond approved by Maine voters in November 2024. Eligible applicants include non-profit corporations and units of state, county, and local government. Max award is $500,000 with a 25% match requirement. Applications are due October 23, 2026.
Affordable and Clean Energy for Rural Enterprises (ACRE) Grant Program – Maine Department of Energy Resources
Maine DOER is offering $950,000 in grants and technical assistance to help small rural businesses reduce and manage energy costs. Small businesses that are part of Maine’s key industries, as defined in Maine’s Ten-Year Economic Development Strategy, are encouraged to apply for:
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Technical assistance, including energy audits, assessments, project scoping, and funding navigation; or
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Project funding for eligible energy-related equipment and installation costs.
The Request for Applications (RFA) and related documents are available through the Vendor Self Service System (VSS). Search for RFA #202609150. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on November 3, 2026.
Natural Resources Disaster Relief Assistant Program – Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry
This program provides assistance to eligible producers – such as farmers and forestry businesses – who were impacted by severe weather in 2023 and 2024, including crop loss, aquaculture loss, and on-farm infrastructure loss. The program may pay up to 95% of the total eligible loss incurred. View the Frequently Asked Questions PDF. Applications are due November 6, 2026.
Lightning Stabilization Grant Program – Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority
This program helps municipalities address distressed municipally-owned properties at risk of further deterioration, potentially beyond the point of being viable for reuse. The intent is to “pause” the decline and create time for community visioning and planning efforts to begin or continue. Max award is $25,000 with no match required. Applications are due March 31, 2027.
MaineDOT Active Transportation Partnership Initiative – Maine Department of Transportation
MaineDOT created the Active Transportation Partnership Initiative (ATPI) to assist in funding small location-specific improvements in the transportation system that enhance safety and mobility for vulnerable road users (VRU), fostering safe and usable human-scale transportation options in Maine. Includes design and construction of targeted safety improvements, improvements to active transportation infrastructure, or demonstration/pilot projects. Rolling application period. Requires variable match. View the full program manual.
EDA Disaster Supplemental Program – U.S. Economic Development Administration
Funding to help communities and regions devise and implement long-term economic recovery strategies through a variety of planning and construction projects, as appropriate, to address economic challenges in areas where a Presidential declaration of a major disaster was issued. Rolling applications. Match Required. View the program factsheet.
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Upcoming Webinar “The People Behind the Plans: What Makes Local Housing Development Successful?”
Join us Tuesday, October 6th, 5:00-6:30pm for an engaging webinar bringing together a panel of expert design and development professionals to talk about what factors make housing development successful on the local level. Learn about what challenges developers are facing, how development decisions get made, and what your community can do to help create housing opportunities for all. Register for the webinar.
Save the Date! Southern Maine Climate Action Workshop
Wednesday, November 18th, 9 – 4 PM | University of New England, Biddeford Campus
Join SMPDC and the University of New England for the third annual Southern Maine Climate Action Workshop. Learn how communities in southern Maine are building their capacity to implement meaningful climate action. Registration info and agenda to come. Read about last year’s workshop. Contact Laura Berry with questions.
Workshop Recording: New Housing Laws & How to Comply
SMPDC partnered with the Maine Office of Community Affairs on this training covering recent changes to Maine’s housing laws and their implications for municipalities. We covered LD 1829, LD 2173, LD 997, and LD 427, including how these legislative changes interact with existing LD 2003 requirements, followed by a Q&A. Thank you to the Town of Hollis for hosting. View the recording.
Reconnecting Communities Institute Transportation Assistance
The Reconnecting Communities Institute (RCI), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, hosts a resource library of tools and informational resources to support communities with transportation reconnection projects. RCI is offering free assistance opportunities to help communities address transportation barriers that support community-driven decisions.
Maine Working Waterfront Conference
November 12-13, 2026 | Atlantic Oceanside Hotel, Bar Harbor, ME
Registration is now open for the inaugural Maine Working Waterfront Conference. The conference will focus on efforts to support coastal and working waterfront resilience, tools for statewide, regional, and municipal planning, updating inventories on working waterfront statuses, and avenues for funding and receiving permitting guidance.
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