Our member municipalities are, first and foremost, our primary partners. Everything we do is centered on supporting municipal governments to address local and regional priorities. The organizations listed below represent many of the agencies and partners that support this work. Regional councils across Maine maintain different partnerships depending on the needs of their communities and available funding. Much of this support comes through recurring state and federal contracts that fund ongoing technical assistance, while other partnerships are established through competitive grants for specific projects or initiatives.
Our partnerships extend well beyond the organizations listed here. We regularly collaborate with nonprofit organizations, land trusts, educational institutions, tribal and county governments, private foundations, consultants, regional and statewide organizations, and local community groups. Together, these partnerships bring additional expertise, resources, and capacity to support Maine's communities.
Maine Department of Economic and Community Development
The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) administers technical assistance funding for regional councils to support municipalities with project development, grant writing, and other forms of technical assistance for programs such as the Northern Border Regional Commission and Community Development Block Grants.
Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC)
Regional councils serve as Local Development Districts (LDDs) for municipalities within their service areas. Through funding administered by DECD, councils promote NBRC funding opportunities, assist communities with project scoping and application development, and provide grant administration for awarded projects. NBRC is a federal-state partnership supporting economic and community development in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont through competitive grant programs and other public-private funding initiatives.
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
Regional councils help municipalities identify Community Development Block Grant opportunities and provide assistance with project scoping and application development. DECD provides funding to regional councils to deliver this technical assistance.
Maine Connectivity Authority
The Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) partners with regional councils to expand broadband access and digital opportunity across the state. Through programs such as the Regional & Wabanaki Broadband Partnership, MCA has funded regional councils to support municipalities and nonprofit partners with broadband planning, project development, and digital inclusion initiatives.
Maine and United States Department of Transportation
MaineDOT partners with regional councils to connect municipalities with transportation planning resources and funding programs. Through programs like the Village Partnership Initiative (VPI), MaineDOT works with regional councils to help communities plan and implement downtown and village area improvements that support safety, walkability, and economic vitality. Regional councils also support municipalities in pursuing federal discretionary grant programs administered by the United States Department of Transportation, such as Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) and RAISE, providing assistance with project scoping, application development, and grant administration.
Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA)
The Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA) houses several programs that benefit municipalities, and regional councils act as the connective network to support municipalities in accessing programs, or implementing new state laws. Key examples include:
Maine Planning Assistance Program
Regional councils receive technical assistance funds through the Maine Planning Assistance Program to support municipalities with land use planning, comprehensive planning, and state law compliance.
State Resilience Office
Regional councils receive funding to support Regional Coordinators which assist municipalities with enrollment into the Community Resilience Partnership, and support enrolled communities with applying for and managing resiliency grants. The Regional Coordinator positions are key to supporting communities with accessing the flexible and supportive funding provided by the state to increase community resilience to climate change and sea level rise.
Housing Opportunity Program
Many regional councils have received grant funding through the Housing Opportunity Program (HOP) to provide technical assistance, resources, and education to municipalities about the lack of housing affordable to the average household in Maine. HOP has also provided resources and grant opportunities available to municipalities which regional councils have helped deploy and make accessible.
United States Economic Development Administration (EDA)
Many of Maine’s Regional Planning Commissions also serve as United States’ Economic Development Regions. These regions receive funding from the EDA to promote regional economic development and cooperation and also maintain regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Many of Maine’s regional councils are recipients of EPA Brownfields Assessment or Revolving Loan Fund grants, used to investigate and remediate contaminated properties. These programs catalyze redevelopment and productive reuse of properties that may have otherwise sat vacant, and posed an environmental risk. Assessment and RLF programs can benefit municipalities, non-profits, and private development firms, allowing for diverse types of development throughout each region.
United States Department of Agriculture
Some regional councils receive USDA Solid Waste Technical Assistance grants that help municipalities evaluate and improve solid waste systems. Regional councils also assist communities in accessing USDA Rural Development programs that fund essential public facilities, infrastructure, and broadband projects in rural Maine.
