2014 Shore and Harbor Planning Grants Awarded

AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's Maine Coastal Program announces that four coastal municipalities will be awarded $52,239 in Shore and Harbor Planning grants. These awards will provide planning and design support for harbor management, infrastructure and public access along the Maine coast.

The grants are made possible by Maine's federal coastal management award from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The grant program, an important component of the Maine Coastal Program, balances the development and conservation of Maine's coastal zone by providing technical assistance to coastal municipalities for planning and public access. Each grantee will provide a minimum of 25% in matching funds or services.

"Commercial and public access to Maine's coastline is important for fisherman, businesses that rely