Grant Opportunities

KVCOG can provide technical assistance for these, and other grant projects of interest to your municipality. For assistance, please reach out to Jessie Cyr, Economic & Community Development Director at or (207) 453-4258, Ext 220

Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program- USDA
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) Grant Programs
Shore and Harbor Planning Grants
Coastal Community Planning Grant Programs
FEMA/MEMA Program Grants

Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program-USDA

This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.
Read more about the program at the USDA Website.

For additional information for areas within:
Kennebec County: Jessie L. Archer, Area Specialist (207) 753-9400
Somerset County: Nathan Persinger, Area Specialist (207) 900-3676

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Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)

The following programs are available to Maine Communities and in certain instances, Counties through the Office of Community Development. For specific information on applications dates and program eligible activities, refer to the individual application packages and the current Program Statement.

Program	Letter of Intent Due By	Application Due By
Downtown Revitalization	January 24, 2025	March 7, 2025
Economic Development	July 1, 2025	Per Invitation
Housing Assistance	March 21, 2025	May 16, 2025
Public Infrastructure	N/A	N/A
Public Service	April 25, 2025	June 6, 2025
Community Enterprise	February 21, 2025	April 11, 2025
Special Projects/Urgent Need	TBD	TBD

Full program descriptions and application materials are available on the Maine DECD website .

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Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC)

Catalyst Program

Catalyst Program Overview

The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) is making available up to $50 million in grant funds to be competitively awarded through the Catalyst Program. The Catalyst Program stimulates economic growth and inspires partnerships that improve rural economic vitality across the four-state NBRC region. The Catalyst Program supports a broad range of economic development initiatives that modernize and expand water and wastewater systems; revitalize transportation infrastructure; establish workforce development programs and facilities; grow outdoor recreation infrastructure and economies; and construct new childcare and healthcare facilities.

Forest Economy Program

Forest Economy Program Program Overview

Approximately $4 MM is available for the 4-state NBRC Region, up to a $1,000,000 maximum award to eligible projects. The purpose of this program is to support the forest-based economy and assists in the industry’s evolution to include new technologies and viable business models across the 4-state NBRC region. The Forest Economy Program is distinct from other programs in two important ways: 1) the Forest Economy Program emphasizes the potential for impact across the entire NBRC region; and 2) Infrastructure projects (defined by Congress in NBRC’s authorizing language to be inclusive of transportation, water and wastewater, telecommunications, and energy) must directly support the forest industry.

Timber for Transit Program

Timber for Transit Program Overview

Approximately $25 MM is available over the next 3 years to eligible projects. This program advances the use of domestic forest products in transportation infrastructure projects across Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont to showcase the capabilities of wood in these applications. Highly competitive projects will demonstrate and widely promote the utility of high value forest products (e.g. glued laminated timber, cross laminated timber, composite materials, etc.) in transportation infrastructure and commit to enhancing climate resilience in rural communities.

2025 Spring Round Timeline

Materials available: January 20, 2025
Pre-Applications (required) Due By: February 28, 2025
Applications (by invitation only) Due By: April 11, 2025
NBRC notice of awards & notice to unsuccessful applicants: June 5-11, 2025

2025 Fall Round Timeline

Materials available: January 20, 2025
Pre-Applications (required) Due By: August 29, 2025
Applications (by invitation only) Due By: October 10, 2025
NBRC notice of awards & notice to unsuccessful applicants: December 19, 2025

Visit NBRC's website for more information.

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Shore and Harbor Planning Grants

The Shore and Harbor Planning Grant Program supports municipal and regional projects in Maine’s Coastal Zone. This provides resources on a competitive basis for shoreline access planning, waterfront and harbor planning, identification and resolution of waterfront use conflicts, and planning, feasibility, and design efforts for resilient waterfront infrastructure. Shore and Harbor Planning Grant projects are often well prepared to compete for construction funding through other sources.

Information pertaining to the next round of funding (Fiscal Year 2026) will be available in Early 2025

View more details about the Shore and Harbor Planning Grant Program on the State of Maine Department of Marine Resources page here.

FY24 Grant Program Statement

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Coastal Community Planning Grant Programs

The Coastal Community Planning Grants opportunity for FY25

The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's Municipal Planning Assistance Program (MPAP) is seeking applications for a new round of Coastal Community Grants (CCG). FY25 CCG details and the program statement are found on the MPAP website.

Open to counties, municipalities, unorganized territories, tribal governments, and Regional Planning Organizations in Maine's coastal zone, CCG competitive grants include projects in Maine's coastal zone with a focus on the following priority coastal issues, as identified by the Maine Coastal Program and the Maine Climate Council's Maine Won't Wait: A Four-Year Plan for Climate Action

CCGs are an important element of the MPAP mission to foster innovative and effective approaches to land use management by providing technical and financial assistance to Maine municipalities.

The Municipal Planning Assistance Program anticipates making multiple CCG awards ranging from $20,000 to $50,000. Total funds available for the FY 2025 program are approximately $165,000. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides funding for these grants in cooperation with the Maine Department of Marine Resources Maine Coastal Program.

This CCG statement is being released to coincide with the second round of Community Action Grants from the Community Resilience Partnership in the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. CCG applicants are encouraged to examine opportunities for coordinating these two grant programs to maximize project scope and efficiencies. As non-federal funding, CCGs provide an eligible match for the federal Coastal Community Grant opportunity.

Applications are due: TBD

View the grant program statement and more information on MPAP's website.

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Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)

Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Funding

The FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Program has announced the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) for Fiscal Year 2024! FMA is a national competition grant program available to State Agencies, Local Government, Federally Recognized Tribes, and Territories to eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and within NFIP-participating communities.

All Counties with a FEMA-approved Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and jurisdictions that have signed onto the plan can apply, as well as, State Agencies and Federally Recognized Tribes.

For additional information, please read through the:

All subapplicants must be participating in the NFIP and not be withdrawn, on probation, or suspended. NFIP community status can be verified via the Community Status Book. Structures eligible for Individual Flood Mitigation Projects must have an NFIP policy (including a Group Flood Insurance Policy) in effect prior to the opening of the application period and the policy must be maintained throughout the life of the structure. Individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations are not eligible to apply for FMA funds as an applicant or subapplicant; however, an eligible applicant or subapplicant may apply for funding on behalf of individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Please let me know if you would like more information on how to apply on behalf of an ineligible subapplicant.

As of February 21, 2023, any shovel-ready projects with a total project cost exceeding $250,000 are subject to Build America Buy America Act (BABAA), through the Infrastructure through capability- and capacity-building; encouraging and enabling innovation; promoting partnerships; enabling large projects; maintaining flexibility; and providing consistency. BABAA requires that all iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used or planned to be used in infrastructure projects must be produced in the United States. For more information, please see the attached FEMA BABAA Best Practices or FEMA BABAA Policy Guidance.

The following allocations have been provided through the FMA NOFO:

Capability and Capacity Building Activities: $60 million dollars

Localized Flood Risk Reduction Projects: $420 million dollars

Individualized Flood Mitigation Projects: $120 million dollars

Application deadline to Apply to the State Hazard Mitigation Officer: March 7, 2025 by 5:00pm

Those interested in applying for FY24 FMA MUST have an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through Sam.gov. As of July 1, 2024, FEMAGO now requires a Login.gov account to apply. The Login.gov account MUST be connected to the subapplicant UEI. If you do not have already have a login.gov account, please visit https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/fema-go/non-disaster/pre-award for step-by-step instructions on how to create your account. Please let me know as soon as possible if you need assistance creating your account.

Cost Share: 75% Federal Share/25% Non-Federal Share unless:

Capability and Capacity Building Activities federal cost share options: Up to 90% federal cost share funding if the average Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) score is not less than 0.5001 for the benefiting area(s) substantiated by a benefiting area map, and the activity must be funded by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). FEMA will determine the CDC SVI score using the following three SVI themes: Socioeconomic Status, Household Characteristics, and Housing Type and Transportation

Localized Flood Risk Reduction Projects federal cost share options: Up to 90% federal cost share funding if the average CDC SVI score is not less than 0.5001 for the project benefiting area containing NFIP-insured properties, and the activity must be funded by the BIL. FEMA will determine the CDC SVI score using the following three SVI themes: Socioeconomic Status, Household Characteristics, and Housing Type and Transportation

Individual Flood Mitigation Projects federal cost share options: Up to 100% federal cost share funding for FMA-defined Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) (B)(i) or (B)(ii) properties in 42 U.S. Code (U.S.C.) § 4104c(h)(3); or, up to 90% federal cost share funding for FMA-defined Repetitive Loss (RL) properties in 42 U.S.C. § 4121(a)(7); or up to 90% federal cost share funding for each NFIP-insured property within a census tract with a CDC SVI score not less than 0.5001, and the activity must be funded by the BIL. FEMA will determine the CDC SVI score using the following three SVI themes: Socioeconomic Status, Household Characteristics, and Housing Type and Transportation

Starting January 15, 2025, Christine Whelan will be providing virtual open office hours, +1 207-209-4724, every Wednesday 10am-11am for those who have questions or inquiries related to FMA funding.

Please contact Christine Whelan and/or for grant eligibility checks, project inquiries, application, and application details before applying.

Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA)

The FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Program has announced the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Building Resilient Infrastructure & Communities (BRIC) for Fiscal Year 2024! The BRIC grant supports state agencies, local government, tribes, and territories as they undertake hazard mitigation activities, reducing the risks they face from disasters and natural hazards by supporting communities

This year, FEMA has removed the FEMA-approved Local Hazard Mitigation requirement for the following Capability- and Capacity-Building Activities:

Hazard Mitigation Planning and planning related activities
Partnerships
Building Codes
Project Scoping (Design)

This means all State Agencies, Counties, Municipalities, and Federally Recognized Tribes can apply for the above mitigation activities!

For additional information, please read through the:

FEMA Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
FEMA BRIC Fact Sheet
Federal Procurement Requirements
MEMA BRIC Fact Sheet

The following allocations have been provided through the BRIC NOFO:

State Competition Allocation: $2 million dollars

State Allocation for Building Codes: $2 million dollars

National Competition Allocation: $451 million dollars

Tribal Set-Aside: $50 million dollars

Tribal Building Code Plus Up: $25 million dollars

Application deadline to Apply to the State Hazard Mitigation Officer: March 7, 2025 by 5:00pm

Those interested in applying for FY24 BRIC MUST have an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through Sam.gov. As of July 1, 2024, FEMAGO now requires a Login.gov account to apply. The Login.gov account MUST be connected to the subapplicant UEI. If you do not have already have a login.gov account, please visit https://www.fema.gov/grants/guidance-tools/fema-go/non-disaster/pre-award for step-by-step instructions on how to create your account. Please let me know as soon as possible if you need assistance creating your account.

Cost Share: 75% Federal Share/25% Non-Federal Share unless:

Economically Disadvantaged Rural Communities (EDRCs) are eligible for an increase in funding, up to a 90% Federal Cost Share/10% Non-Federal Cost Share. EDRCs are communities of 3,000 or fewer people, with residents having an average per capita annual income no more than 80% of the national per capita income, based on the best available data. OR,

Community Disaster Resilience Zone: Hazard mitigation projects performed within, and/or that primarily benefit, a designated Community Disaster Resilience Zone, as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 5136(a)(1), are eligible for an increase in BRIC cost share up to 90% federal / 10% non-federal with the goal to lessen the financial burden on communities to perform resilience-related activities.

Starting January 15, 2025, Christine Whelan will be providing virtual open office hours, +1 207-209-4724 every Wednesday 10am-11am for those who have questions or inquiries related to BRIC funding.

Please contact Christine Whelan and/or for grant eligibility checks, project inquiries, application, and application details before applying.