The Housing Opportunity Program Service Provider Grants, offered by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, are designed to support municipalities and regions in expanding housing opportunities through community planning and implementation. With funding available up to $150,000 per applicant, this program specifically targets efforts to address affordable housing needs and workforce housing development across Maine.
Eligibility is open to regional planning organizations, economic development organizations, county governments, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, cooperative extension programs, for-profit enterprises, and municipalities. Applicants may submit only one application, which can include multiple projects, provided these efforts are distinct from any previously funded initiatives.
Eligible activities encompass community education on affordable housing, housing data collection, policy updates for municipal planning, housing production goal-setting, land use mapping, pre-approved housing design templates, and infrastructure assessments. Projects that focus on regional collaborations and align with additional goals like climate resilience and transportation planning are encouraged. However, funds cannot be used for real property or equipment acquisition, nor can they fund services for municipalities not in compliance with recent state legislation (P.L. 2021, ch. 672 and P.L. 2023, ch. 192).
Application Requirements include a detailed budget, a municipal compliance letter (if applicable), and a scope of work that outlines the project activities, timeline, and long-term impacts. Applications are due by January 14, 2025, at 11:59 p.m., and must be submitted via email to Proposals@maine.gov. The review process will assess criteria such as organizational qualifications, project need, deliverables, budget, and community engagement strategies, scored on a 100-point scale.
Awardees will be required to provide quarterly progress updates and attend two workshops to share insights with other grant recipients. The anticipated project period is 18 months, starting in May 2025.
