Maine Office of Community Affairs Announces Tools Connecting Communities to Funding and Planning Support
New phone line answers questions for municipal staff, Funding Finder centralizes grant opportunities
AUGUSTA-- Today, the Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA) announced new tools to connect communities across Maine to resources for planning, funding, and more to help them address local challenges and pursue solutions.
The tools -- a dedicated phone line and an online Funding Finder -- mark significant new offerings from MOCA since the Governor and Legislature created the office in 2024. MOCA serves as a one-stop shop for communities within State government to support the delivery of robust planning and technical assistance, coordinate resources across State agencies, and ensure consistent interactions with municipal leaders.
"Communities across Maine are on the frontlines of some of our biggest and most complex challenges. That's why, in partnership with the Legislature, we've established the Maine Office of Community Affairs to enhance collaboration and coordination between state government and local governments," said Governor Janet Mills. "These new tools from MOCA will help municipal leaders to access valuable state programs and planning assistance, and I encourage Maine communities to reach out to MOCA to learn more about resources and support available to them."
"These new tools are a direct response to what we've heard from Maine communities -- that they need simple, clear ways to navigate state government and find funding for local projects," said MOCA Director Samantha Horn. "With this support, they can devote more time to their important work tackling challenges from housing to climate change. We look forward to continuing to partner with Maine communities to help them access valuable state programs and planning assistance."
Leaders and staff from towns and cities across Maine can call the new MOCA phone line at (207) 287-MOCA (6622) to get answers to their questions about planning and resilience, such as where to find resources to prevent or recover from storm damage, information about municipal ordinances and housing development, resources for creating and sustaining volunteer networks, climate adaptation and mitigation activities, and much more. The phone line is available Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and answered by the MOCA program staff.
MOCA additionally launched the Maine Community Funding Finder, which centralizes funding opportunities from state agencies, federal agencies, and the Efficiency Maine Trust that can support local projects. Available at maine.gov/moca/funding-finder, the tool allows communities to either search for grants and other funding opportunities or answer a few guiding questions to discover funding possibilities they may not yet know about.
The MOCA phone line and Funding Finder are intended for use by Maine communities, including local governments, tribal governments, county governments, regional councils, quasi-municipal entities (water districts, sewer districts, etc.), school districts, and service provider organizations working in partnership with these entities.
"The creation of the Maine Office of Community Affairs is a critical step forward and a key component for strengthening the partnership between state and municipal governments," said Catherine Conlow, Maine Municipal Association Executive Director. "The new tools announced today will help municipalities to access reliable, centralized resources for technical assistance and funding. The Legislature's continued support for the office underscores the vital role municipal leaders play in sustaining effective intergovernmental collaboration."
"For rural towns like Van Buren, capacity is always our biggest challenge," said Van Buren Town Manager Luke Dyer. "MOCA's new funding-finder portal, paired with a direct phone line we can call for guidance, gives us something we've never had before: a single place to navigate state programs that support revitalization, housing, broadband, resilience, and community development. When you're managing multiple projects with limited staff, having this level of clarity and accessibility is transformative."
"Bringing multiple municipal programs together under MOCA is an important step toward a more connected, whole-systems approach to municipal support that aligns state resources with community needs and realities," said Averi Varney, President of the Maine Association of Regional Councils. "With the new tools announced today, communities can get assistance and save valuable time identifying the right grant opportunities for them."
In September 2025, MOCA brought together seven existing programs from across state government involving land use, housing and flood plain planning, climate resilience, building codes, coastal management, and mobilizing volunteers.
MOCA additionally includes a newly established State Resilience Office and staff, which is leading cross-agency efforts to enhance climate resilience across the state, especially in communities with significant climate vulnerabilities impacting residents, infrastructure, and the environment.