AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced Thursday that small businesses and municipalities can now apply for relief funding to help rebuild and recover from the severe December and January storms that damaged much of the state.
Applications were launched by the Department of Economic and Community Development for $10 million in funding for small businesses and nonprofits through its new Business Recovery and Resilience Fund, Mills' office said in a release.
The new fund was created to help "make storm-related repairs and strengthen infrastructure to withstand future storms," the release stated,
The Maine Department of Transportation also on Thursday launched applications for $25 million in funding through the Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund, which aims to aid municipalities "rebuild infrastructure that is resilient and that provides community, economic, and environmental benefits," Mills' office said.
This initiative was launched by Mills in 2021.
"MaineDOT is proud to help expedite the availability of these new resources to the municipal, tribal, and infrastructure districts that have been impacted by recent severe weather events," Bruce Van Note, commissioner of the MaineDOT, said in Thursday's release. "This funding will not only help rebuild what was damaged, but it will also improve the resiliency of this infrastructure moving forward."
Mills' office said this funding was made available as part of the $60 million storm relief package that was approved by the Maine Legislature.
"The severe storms in December and January disrupted businesses during the busy holiday season and created significant hardship for communities across Maine," Mills said in the Thursday release. "These funds will help Maine small businesses and communities rebuild and do so in a way that better prepares us to withstand the next storm. I encourage all eligible Maine businesses and municipalities to consider applying."
Applications for the Business Recovery and Resilience Fund are due by 11:59 p.m. on June 25. Funds are expected to be available on August 9, according to Mills' office.
You can apply for the Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund by 11:59 p.m. on July 1.
