$17 Million to Improve Coastal Resilience for Working Waterfronts in Maine

The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) has opened the Maine Public Work Waterfront Infrastructure Fund. The Fund’s purpose is to assist municipalities with working waterfronts adapt to and build resilience to sea level rise, coastal flooding, and other impacts. 

Examples of resilience work include, but are not limited to:

• Elevation or strengthening of existing infrastructure;
• Relocation of existing infrastructure; and
• Improvements that make the waterfront more accessible for commercial and recreational purposes.

More examples are available in the fund's Resiliency Guidelines.

While properties do not have to be exclusively commercial, the awardees must be able to demonstrate benefits to commercial fishing and aquaculture industries. Grant categories and awards include:

• Scoping and Design up to $75,000;
• Construction Projects at Existing Waterfronts up to $2,000,000; and
• Combination of Scoping, Design, and Construction up to $2,000,000

Applicants are required to provide a minimum of 5% local match (cash or in-kind) of the total project costs. Applications aredue March 11^th, 2026.

To learn more or discuss the grant process, contact Rania Campbell-Bussiere, Sr. Grant Specialist.