Growsmart Maine

Policy action 2023 over the past year, Growsmart launched a bold initiative in partnership with build Maine to create a collaborative, transparent process developing public policy around a shared goal: to address barriers to and create incentives for equitable, sustainable growth and development that strengthens downtowns and villages of all sizes while pulling development pressure away from productive and open natural areas. We work with bipartisan sponsors and supporters over the two years of the 131st legislature - four bills passed and signed by the governor. These were incremental improvements to funding levels and policy, as well as resolves for additional information in the next session. - one bill was withdrawn and a revised proposal was submitted for the next session - four bills were voted down in committee; with one piece brought into a bill that passed. - nine bills carried over to the next session. Outcomes include 5.7million in additional funding for transit and broadening representation on the public transit advisory council, recommendations on planning assistance to Maine communities, adding safety metrics and crash data to mainedot's prioritization and evaluation, and establishing an energy scoring system for residential buildings Growsmart Maine continues to press for strategies that facilitate more housing without undoing the good work in response to the climate crisis and without creating the next crisis in access to food and farmland planning for agriculture: Growsmart supported bills that protect farmland and support farm viability. Bills addressed pfas contamination and maintaining the balance between farmland and solar and wind energy production and carbon sequestration. Smart growth and broadband: we supported bills to encourage development of accessory-dwelling units, increase transportation funding, encourage safe and interconnected transportation projects, and through our policy leadership in the Maine broadband coalition, we advocated to secure internet privacy, and expand broadband-related funding and technical assistance to communities.

Growsmart Maine hosts the kennebec broadband partnership, a program of the Maine connectivity authority. This partnership supports broadband infrastructure projects and digital equity and literacy projects to connect residents in kennebec county. It is one of 13 regional and tribal broadband programs in the state. The partnership seeks to create alignment and coordination between communities, regions, and the state for broadband connectivity. In addition, this program advances digital equity and literacy for people in the county, covering 29 towns. Digital equity is a condition where all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy, and economy. Digital equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services. With support from the kennebec county digital equity working group, we created a regional kennebec county digital equity plan, determining the connectivity, device, and learning needs of people with low income, elders, people with different abilities, veterans, rural residents, and people with low-literacy or learning english. This plan is part of Maine's digital equity plan, which serves as a five-year road map to bring the economic, health, educational, and social benefits of high-speed internet to all mainers. In 2024, the program will implement digital literacy programs across the region and promote access to affordable internet and devices and regional broadband solutions.

Planning for agriculture planning for ag is a collaboration between the american farmland trust (aft) and Growsmart Maine to make farm viability and farmland protection an integral part of land use planning. The initiative is a response to the alarming rate of farmland loss in Maine and across america. Maine lost almost 150,000 acres, or 10%, of its farmland between 2012 and 2017, much of it due to "low-density residential development- or sprawl. Gsm works with local communities to limit sprawl and encourage development toward existing village centers. Smart growth allows local businesses and farmers' markets to thrive on walkable main streets, communities to benefit from resilient local food networks, and families to access healthy, locally grown food. Reducing sprawl has also been shown to have a positive fiscal impact on town and municipal budgets. Our efforts are focused on: 1) advocacy at the local and state levels to advance legislation, planning solutions, and other measures that help safeguard farmland and farm viability; 2) convening partners and channeling resources to amplify smart growth and farm community voices in town and municipal planning processes; 3) enabling local communities and citizen planners to integrate farm viability and farm protection strategies in comprehensive plans and land- use ordinances. We do this by making relevant tools and guidance readily available, for example through our online planning for ag toolbox. Importantly, support from the american farmland trust has enabled Growsmart Maine to secure additional resources and expand our community engagement and technical assistance through the three new programs outlined below. The community resilience partnership municipalities are seeking ways to adapt to current and projected climate change impacts to better protect lives and property and ensure they can continue to offer a good quality of life and a thriving economy now and in the future. Smart growth not only prepares a community and its residents and businesses for the impacts of climate change but also improves everyday life. With support from the governor's office of policy innovation and the future (gopif), Growsmart Maine helps communities enroll in the community resilience partnership. Once enrolled, communities may apply directly for grants from gopif to support projects that reduce energy use and costs and make their community more resilient to climate change effects, such as flooding, extreme weather, drought, and public health impacts. Growsmart Maine is currently working with the towns of mount vernon and vienna and is available to support other towns for future rounds. The housing opportunity program through planning for ag, Growsmart Maine has provided technical assistance to the comprehensive planning process in bowdoinham, focused on strategies to address immediate and long-term needs in housing and agriculture. Bowdoinham is situated within commuting distance of major employers and service centers and development pressure is expected to continue to increase, threatening significant farmland. Building on this work, Growsmart Maine was awarded a service provider grant from the department of economic and community development's housing opportunity program. The grant allows Growsmart Maine to demonstrate farmland protection as a key component of the ongoing state and federal focus on increasing affordable housing. In addition to technical assistance, Growsmart will develop educational resources that will be available statewide. The grant will also enable us to work with the hancock county planning commission (hcpc) to develop resources on the sustainable siting of new housing as a part of their regional planning process. Building community strength: a community planning capacity-building program this proposed 3-year program builds on existing community strengths and will provide training, technical assistance, and grants to rural municipalities in Maine. The goal is to strengthen communities' ability to identify community priorities, develop strategic and effective plans, and access funding to implement projects. By design, this program builds local capacity that will continue to serve communities beyond the span of this program. The proposal was submitted to usda: rural development with matching funds from the american farmland trust. Ten municipalities signed up to participate in the program. If funded, trainees from each municipality will tackle climate resilience, economic development, farm viability and farmland protection, housing for a well-rounded community, and equitable and inclusive community development. Trainees will also be supported in researching and applying for state, federal, and foundation funding. The trainings will be delivered through three platforms: 1) joint workshops bringing together trainers and trainees from all enrolled communities to learn from each other, share resources and experiences, and solve common challenges; 2) community visits where trainers and trainees engage the broader community and set community goals in a neutral and facilitated structure, and; 3) ongoing learning is supported through online tools and resources, as well as a dedicated q&a members' forum.

Growsmart received an anonymous donation for the benefit of a coalition named moving Maine network. The funds are held in reserves for the coalition to utilize within its mission, vision, and values. The moving Maine network convenes stakeholders from across sectors and perspectives to elevate solutions and champion policy actions. Our 2022-23 policy priorities were developed through input from hundreds of stakeholders representing various interests and lived experiences across the state. We believe these priorities and the related actions will advance the key mobility issues our community seeks to address. Selection of these priorities was informed by our core values. In 2022 and 2023, moving Maine will foster understanding among policymakers about the impact of transportation barriers and the most promising solutions. Moving maines policy and advocacy workgroup acts as the venue to collaborate on and advance our policy efforts.