[watershedmanagers] 2026 Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund

[News and discussion forum for watershed managers in Maine]

The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will be seeking applications for the 2026 Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund in late March 2026.

The purpose of this fund is to provide one-time funding to municipal, tribal, and infrastructure districts to adapt their critical infrastructure to reduce vulnerability to climate change.

Eligible properties include publicly owned infrastructure in municipalities, tribal communities, and infrastructure districts.

Eligible projects include stormwater systems upgrades, water system upgrades, and other interventions that support public infrastructure repair to reduce or eliminate climate impacts. Additional eligible projects may include, but are not limited to:
* Stabilizing coastal or inland shoreland through the use of vegetation and biodegradable materials (the construction of hard shoreline stabilization structures are not eligible for funding unless they are part of a hybrid green and gray adaptation action);
* Replacing existing stream crossings with structures that comply with MaineDOT's 100-year flood standards and ensure habitat connectivity;
* Adapting stormwater infrastructure to accommodate the increase in extreme precipitation events;
* Scoping and design, and/or construction of wastewater treatment plants upgrades for increased resilience to climate change stressors;
* Transportation resilience projects;
* Upgrading, retrofitting, or relocating existing infrastructure to reduce risk from weather and climate impacts (construction of new facilities is not an eligible activity under this grant opportunity).

Projects must be completed by September 30, 2029.

The State anticipates awarding up to $13.8 million to eligible proposals through Maine's NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge award.

The Request for Applications (RFA) will open in late March 2026 and is expected to remain open for approximately six weeks.

The RFA will be posted here:  https://www.maine.gov/dot/ programs-services/environmental-efforts/ climate-initiative/adaptation in late March 2026.

FMI: https://www.maine.gov/dot/programs-services/environmental-efforts/climate-initiative/adaptation

Contact Information: Lirella Jaen, Transportation Planning Specialist Maine Department of Transportation  Adaptation.DOT at maine.gov<mailto:Adaptation.DOT at maine.gov>


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