 Thrive Maine Fund:?On July 22, 2022, Governor Mills announced the?"Thrive Maine"?program, which will utilize $58 million from the Jobs Plan to provide forgivable loans to small businesses in Maine to support their continued economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Small businesses that experienced losses, increased costs, or market?interruptions as a result of the pandemic are eligible for funding through Thrive Maine, and may apply for loans of up to $2 million.?If businesses are approved and continue to meet program terms, loans may be fully forgiven over a four year period. Full eligibility details and other information can be found on the Finance Authority of Maine website. The program is expected to start accepting applications in the early fall.?
Workforce Transportation Pilot:?The Maine Department of Transportation continues to seek proposals for the $5 million?Workforce Transportation Pilot program, an initiative of Governor Mills? Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, to pursue and develop transportation solutions that connect workers with employers across Maine. The program will provide competitive grants of up to $750,000 to local and regional partnerships to pilot ways to connect workers and employers through ridesharing, vanpools, and other subsidized transit options. Applications are currently being accepted on a rolling basis on the Department of Transportation's website.
 Expansion of Rural Clinical Preceptorships and Rural Graduate Medical Education (GME) Programs:?Maine's Department of Health and Human Services is now accepting applications from rural health care organizations to help recruit clinical preceptors to host students for clinical rotations, particularly for nursing and advance practice nursing programs. Additionally, this program will provide funding to establish new or expand existing Rural Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs, which aim to attract and retain physicians to practice in rural areas by increasing their experience in and relationship to rural communities. Applications are being accepted through October 11, 2022 on the?Division of Procurement Services website (RFA #202206098).
 Municipal Stream Crossing Grant Program:?Maine's Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for grants to upgrade undersized and failing culvert stream crossings on municipal roads.?The projects awarded provide public infrastructure benefits such as by replacing culverts that are currently failing and at risk of complete washouts, opens or improves fish passage, eliminates undersized and other impassable culverts and reduces some of the worst ongoing erosion impacts to streams, brooks, and lakes.?Applications are being accepted through November 10, 2022 on the?Division of Procurement Services website (RFA #202208126).
Pre-Kindergarten Expansion Grants:?The Maine Department of Education has opened a second round of funding for school administrative units (SAUs) to increase the number of 4-year-olds enrolled in public pre-k across the state. Recipients?will be able to use the funding?to start new pre-k programs and/or expand existing programs from part-day/part-week to full-day/full-week programs.?Applications for this round are being accepted through October 13, 2022 on the?Division of Procurement Services website (RFA #202207106).
Child Care Infrastructure Grant Program - Center-Based Grants:?Maine's Department of Health and Human Services is now accepting applications for grants to help Mainers renovate existing child care businesses and help transition family-based programs into center-based programs. Eligible facilities are encouraged to apply for funds to cover up to 50% of?their related expansion costs. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis through Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations:?Efficiency Maine Trust, with funding from the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, is now accepting applications from local governments, businesses, tribal governments, and non-profits in eligible towns to install electric vehicle chargers in rural communities throughout the state.?Efficiency Maine expects this initial funding opportunity to help defray the cost of approximately 150 new plugs. Applications are being accepted until November 17, 2022 through the Efficiency Maine Trust website.
Expand High-Speed Broadband -?Get Ready: Community Support Program: The Maine Connectivity Authority, with funding from the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, is now accepting applications?to help streamline and expedite the community broadband planning process by establishing a partnership between the Maine Connectivity Authority, community and regional level broadband planning groups, and a stable of professional services that align with state infrastructure funding. Applications?from single or groups of municipalities, broadband utility districts, economic development corporations, county-level administration entities are being accepted until October 28, 2022 through the Maine Connectivity Authority website.
?
|
