Sen. Pierce, Pres. Daughtry, Reps. Mitchell, Bell, Kuhn celebrate Community Action Grants awarded to Cumberland, Long Island, Chebeague Island, Falmouth and Yarmouth

Senate Majority Leader Teresa S. Pierce, D-Falmouth, Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, Rep. Christina Mitchell, D-Cumberland, Rep. Art Bell, D-Yarmouth, and Rep. Amy Kuhn, D-Falmouth, are pleased to announce that the towns of Cumberland, Long Island, Yarmouth and Falmouth are recipients of a Community Action Grant award from the Community Resilience Partnership.

The Towns of Long Island and Chebeague Island received an award in the amount of $86,000 for a community wildfire protection plan.

The Town of Cumberland received an award in the amount of $75,000 to reduce the town’s greenhouse gas emissions by increasing energy efficiency, reducing use of fossil fuels, developing a local food economy and enhancing sequestration from natural systems.

The Towns of Falmouth and Yarmouth received an award in the amount of $175,000 towards the Greater Portland Energy Coaches (GPEC) to advance public transportation powered by clean energy.

“There is no doubt that our climate and weather patterns are rapidly changing, bringing destructive storms and threatening our roadways, working waterfronts, schools and our way of life in Maine,” said Sen. Pierce. “After meeting with local leaders and surveying the storm damage last year on Long Island and other affected communities, I knew more hard work had to be done to support our communities. As a state senator representing towns receiving grant awards, I will proudly continue supporting these targeted investments in Maine people, our towns and the future of our state.”

“The devastating storms of December 2023 highlighted the vulnerabilities of our coastal communities, like Chebeague Island, where critical infrastructure was damaged, and residents experienced severe disruptions to their daily lives. The grant awarded to Chebeague Island through the Community Resilience Partnership is a vital step in rebuilding and preparing for future storms,” said Senate President Mattie Daughtry. “By investing in resilience now, we are helping our communities ensure our way of life is sustainable and preserved for generations to come. I am proud to support this important work and stand with Chebeague Island as we build a more resilient Maine.”

“I am pleased to hear that communities in my district have received three Community Action Grant awards from the Community Resilience Partnership,” said Rep. Mitchell. “The hard work that they put into applying for these grants will help us better prepare for the extreme weather and climate changes we are all facing. I applaud their efforts and thank the Governor’s Office for recognizing the value of their work with these grants.”

“I am ecstatic that Yarmouth will be receiving this grant,” said Rep. Bell. “Public transportation powered by clean energy will be a game changer for our community and our state.”

“Last year’s winter storms showed us all that climate change is not some distant threat — it’s already here and having devastating impacts across the state,” said Rep. Kuhn. “I am thankful that the town of Falmouth was awarded grant money to support a green public transportation initiative, a step which will help towards building a more resilient and sustainable community.”

This round of grant awards is partially funded by the supplemental budget, supported by President Daughtry, Sen. Pierce, Rep. Bell and Rep. Kuhn, and signed by Governor Mills in April 2024. This investment follows the devastating storms in December 2023 and January 2024 that caused an unprecedented estimated $90 million in damage to public infrastructure in Maine.

These grants are also partially funded by a federal grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and $3 million authorized by the Legislature in 2023 to support grants to eligible communities and to regional service providers that work to help communities join the Partnership.

For a full list of grant awardees, click here.

President Daughtry is serving her third term in the Maine Senate representing Senate District 23, which includes Brunswick, Freeport, Pownal, Harpswell, Chebeague Island and part of Yarmouth.

Sen. Pierce is serving her second term in the Maine Senate representing Senate District 25, which includes Falmouth, Cumberland, North Yarmouth, majority of Yarmouth, Gray and Long Island.

Rep. Mitchell is serving her first term in the Maine House of Representatives representing House District 110, which includes Cumberland, Long Island and Chebeague Island.

Rep. Bell is serving his third term in the Maine House of Representatives representing House District 103, which includes the town of Yarmouth.

Rep. Kuhn is serving her second term in the Maine House of Representatives representing House District 111, which includes part of Falmouth.