The Maine Office of Community Affairs’ Maine Coastal Program (MCP) and Municipal Planning Assistance Program (MPAP) announced today approximately $550,000 to support local or regional planning projects that prepare coastal communities and critical public infrastructure for future hazards and storms and to advance community resilience planning.

The funding is available through two grants; the Shore and Harbor Planning Grant and the Coastal Community Grant.  Both are supported by funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) annual grant to Maine Coastal Program.

Awards of up to $50,000 for individual applicants and $75,000 for group applicants will  support priorities such as long-term coastal hazard and risk assessments, designing resilient infrastructure, improving public access to the coast and improving land use planning and local ordinances to address future hazards.

The Program Statement with application instructions can be found on the Maine Office of Community Affairs website.

Applications are due by 5:00 pm on Monday, January 5, 2026.  All applilcants must be submitted via email to:  melissa.britsch@maine.gov.  All questions regarding the Program Statement must be submitted by email to melissa.britsch@maine.gov by 5:00 pm on December 15, 2025.  Responses to all questios will be compiled in writing and posted on the Maine Office of Community Affairs website by 5:00 pm on December 22, 2025.  Only those answers issued in writing on this website will be considered binding.

Eligible applicants include counties, muncipalities, unorganized territories, tribal governments and Regional Councils in Maine’s Coastal  Zone.  Successful applications must address one of the Priority Categories listed in the Program Statement.  Applicants may submit more than one application if the projects fall into distinct priority categories.