Small businesses can apply for final round of funding to recover from last year’s storms

Small businesses impacted by last winter’s storms can now apply for a final round of funding to rebuild and recover.

The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) opened applications Tuesday for approximately $2 million in remaining funding for Maine small businesses and nonprofit organizations, according to an announcement from Gov. Janet Mills’ office.

Businesses and nonprofits can request up to $100,000 for related design, permitting and construction costs. Projects receiving grants must include plans to increase resilience to future storms and other extreme weather events, according to Mills’ office. Grant funds can be used to cover up to 50% of a total project cost, with the recipient matching the state’s contribution. 

The department is prioritizing new applications, said Ben Goodman, a spokesperson for the governor’s office. If funding is not exhausted, the department may consider businesses that were already awarded grants during the initial round of funding but have additional expenses and are eligible for more. 

“Many Maine businesses were impacted during the three winter storms,” said DECD Commissioner Heather Johnson. “We were able to get direct help to many business owners in the first round, and these funds will allow us to reach even more businesses to help them recover and increase their resilience to a changing climate.”  

Applications for small businesses and nonprofits are due by January 14, 2025.

The $10 million Business Recovery and Resilience Fund is part of a $60 million storm relief package secured by the governor and approved by the Legislature earlier this year. In August, the Mills administration awarded nearly $8 million to businesses in the first round of funding, which helped 170 Maine businesses and nonprofits in all 16 counties recover from storm damage and improve infrastructure resilience. 

Almost 40 communities across the state also received a total of $25.2 million to rebuild, relocate and repair infrastructure and install flood proofing measures. Finally, the third piece of the funding package, $21.2 million, went toward grants to help rebuild 68 working waterfronts.