Grants will fund new harbor projects

The Maine Coastal Program, a Division of the Maine Department of Marine Resources, announces the award of $141,879 to six coastal municipalities. These awards will provide support for harbor management, waterfront infrastructure planning and design, and public access. Funding for the grants comes from DMR’s federal coastal management award from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and from Maine’s Submerged Lands Program.

Each grantee will provide a minimum of 25% in matching funds or services. Grants were awarded as follows:

Chebeague – Harbor Master Plan for Sunset Landing: $28,000 for developing design and cost estimates for a facility to meet the island’s transportation needs at Sunset Landing.

Damariscotta – Waterfront Restroom Design and Engineering: $17,300 to design a public restroom and visitor’s kiosk in Damariscotta’s downtown waterfront area.

Frenchboro – Deepwater Municipal Landing Study: $18,150 to investigate opportunities for a new all-tide landing in Frenchboro Harbor.

Gouldsboro – Prospect Harbor Working Waterfront Revitalization Plan: $21,000 to develop plans for an industry and tourism friendly working waterfront in Prospect Harbor.

Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission – Assessing the Feasibility of Purchasing a Dredge: $27,429 for a multi-municipal partnership to assess the potential for purchasing a regional dredge.

South Portland - Portland Street Pier Master Plan and Feasibility: $30,000 for a plan which considers expanding the city-owned pier to support the aquaculture and fishing industries, and maintenance of existing infrastructure.

This is the eleventh round of Shore and Harbor Planning Grant solicitations. Since 2006, 75 grants have been awarded for a total of $1,082,034. More information on the grant program can be found online.