The 2024 Service Provider Grants, offered by the State of Maine Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation & Future, are designed to support service provider organizations in assisting communities with climate action, energy, and resilience planning. This grant opportunity is available to a variety of organizations, including regional planning organizations, councils of governments, regional economic development organizations, county governments, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, cooperative extension programs, and for-profit enterprises. Municipalities can also apply, provided they demonstrate the capacity to serve other communities.

The purpose of the Service Provider Grants is to enable organizations to assist communities in two specific tracks. Track 1 focuses on Community Enrollment Service Provider Grants, which allow organizations to help two to five communities prepare for and enroll in the Community Resilience Partnership. This track also includes applying for grant funds to undertake priority climate and energy projects. Track 2, on the other hand, is aimed at Community Vulnerability Assessment Service Provider Grants, which assist enrolled or enrolling communities in completing vulnerability assessments to identify at-risk community members, infrastructure, and assets. The data gathered will help prioritize climate action projects and apply for additional grant funds.

The total funding available for this grant round is approximately $600,000, which will be allocated across both tracks. Applicants can request up to $10,000 per community in their group, with an additional request of up to $2,500 for communities that exhibit high social vulnerability or have populations of less than 4,000. The grant period is set for a duration of up to twelve months, and eligible uses of the funds include project personnel, contractual expenses, supplies, minor equipment, travel, and indirect costs. However, funds cannot be used for construction, computer equipment, permit fees, or unrelated staffing needs.

To be eligible for the grant, applicants must recruit between two to five communities as part of their application. For Track 1, the communities must not have been previously enrolled in the Partnership or supported by an earlier Service Provider Grant. Unorganized territories, townships, and plantations are also eligible, but they must provide letters of support from appropriate local authorities. Each application must include letters of support from each community in the proposed group, indicating their intention to participate in the Partnership or complete a vulnerability assessment.

The application process requires specific documentation, including letters of support that convey the communities' understanding of their roles in the grant process. For Track 1, the letters should indicate the community's intention to enroll in the Partnership, while for Track 2, they should express the community's commitment to participate in the vulnerability assessment process.

The deadline for submitting applications is November 8, 2024. It is important for potential applicants to be aware of this timeline and prepare their materials accordingly. The evaluation criteria for the applications will focus on the capacity of the service provider to assist the communities effectively and the clarity of the proposed project plans.

For more information about the grant and to access the application materials, interested parties can visit the official website of the Maine Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation & Future. This resource will provide further details on the application process and any additional requirements that may be necessary for a successful submission.