[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6743699,"mediaKeyId","2249039-610c718daed9c56a8ef970ef3d6bebc4","parentId",2249039,"title","Maine DEP details SRF, principal forgiveness and PFAS funding options for wastewater and stormwater projects","audioSeconds",1944,"startMs",1456000,"endMs",3400000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249039-610c718daed9c56a8ef970ef3d6bebc4&start=1456&end=3400","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249039-610c718daed9c56a8ef970ef3d6bebc4/thumbnail_1456000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6743699/Maine/Maine-DEP-details-SRF-principal-forgiveness-and-PFAS-funding-options-for-wastewater-and-stormwater-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6743699-29eae38b41ebe5ce7e131327a9c3364c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770872871&Signature=U56-ekVm~qhhHdZ4z4Uv5ZSVFYG~KmbzbXmKkkHfw~OgBInt46IGYhegTfhrDgq0Cv~9X6um86S5qlendIHeMg01cuphsW~seVub36CXFDuYmP1ArMpEBkDFFyx3v4ZzjCG5nhhWU7tiRFWTeLwNSv8vgB~uGFHl9is00je9ViQBPxuWuActbO6kY9cERWgv4qHUYXQFtbc2rlhFWkSTEbPbL0mi4q530fk-1ZhCfFEzHazwPXh~JEIp4OHR7GhqhDLNH1CwgNX5nGsLEZ4mMLCbs6NSoXKmoPbx99Idxn7-gIWVQuJ0fuvYFMAWvSnl2jMc5XXdKb5kygLeECdDuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Maine ","date","2025-02-07T20:11:10.533Z","article","Brandy Pierce, Clean Water State Revolving Fund program manager at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, told webinar attendees that the SRF program combines multiple funding sources — a base allocation, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds, repayment dollars and targeted grants for sewer overflow/stormwater and emerging contaminants — into a single pool for wastewater and stormwater projects.

“This year's allocation is a base program anticipated of getting 6,300,000, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is gonna give us roughly about $18,800,000,” Pierce said, and she explained that a substantial portion of those combined funds is set aside as principal forgiveness (grant-like money). She said approximately $12,700,000 is being reserved for principal forgiveness this year and that SRF loan repayment is recycled to fund future projects.

Pierce described eligible SRF uses: wastewater construction and collection-system replacement, stormwater projects, landfill capping, treatment works, and fiscal sustainability (asset-management) plans. She said wastewater construction typically ranks highest in funding priority but noted stormwater projects are increasingly prioritized because stormwater can capture emerging contaminants such as PFAS.

The DEP program offers targeted incentives: up to $50,000 in principal forgiveness for fiscal sustainability (asset-management) plans with a required local match, and up to $25,000 (no match) for climate-adaptation planning tied to sewer and stormwater systems. She said the agency is offering $1,640,000 in 100% principal-forgiveness funds for projects addressing emerging contaminants, and described eligible activities as lab purchases, engineering studies, source-water protection, stormwater treatment, biosolids handling and related work.

Pierce also described the Small Community Grant program to address failing subsurface wastewater systems: the program typically replaces or repairs 35–40 septic systems per year with approximately $750,000 in annual funding and historically used an income threshold of under $40,000 for eligibility; Pierce said the program is moving toward a percent-of-state-median-household-income threshold to expand eligibility.

In response to an attendee question, Pierce advised that PFAS contamination at former commercial sites is typically handled through DEP Brownfields funding, while the SRF emerging-contaminant funds are aimed at wastewater/stormwater/biosolids treatment and related responses. She closed by offering DEP assistance and contact help for communities seeking matched funding packages.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Infrastructure Funding for Communities, 2/7/2025 - Maine Planning Basics Webinar","oneSentenceSummary","Brandy Pierce, Clean Water SRF program manager at Maine DEP, described the SRF funding structure (base allocation, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, repayment funds), principal forgiveness set-asides, eligible uses including emerging‑contaminant projects, and the Small Community Grant program for failing septic systems.","taxTitle","Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Department of, Executive, Maine","taxId",28299,"location","Maine","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6743703,"Maine DECD outlines CDBG application basics; stresses income surveys and planning lead time",908,142000,1050000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249039-610c718daed9c56a8ef970ef3d6bebc4&start=142&end=1050","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249039-610c718daed9c56a8ef970ef3d6bebc4/thumbnail_142000.jpg","/articles/6743703/Maine/Maine-DECD-outlines-CDBG-application-basics-stresses-income-surveys-and-planning-lead-time","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6743703-76263138d09005dcb91570db316415da/orig.mp4?Expires=1770872871&Signature=C5xCCk82BUpm~iPYghJ5HOMV2~s6tp37Uw4X1wi4QSsdgwAk4B9mSVjN2SeIg1f36Ke5vKV8qYzWZwaw3MXg05P1b6wmfY4R~348nmLLN4YEUyS1EuFqFqowzRmdzy7Ozi8ZdTJHrjEr~viH~MAwrD1dWbIZ4zyK41OOGcjClyoCu1~b5oMSn0dt4Pi15spVX5HCvLbwrzY8xY4l5glVadyP7d~sri~SnK1HejuZzIBiruFHdm3P~lQr8i-Ik8qlAI6MHf1XRDIxZL1o0-V7iQCC0syQY9oOC8VTe~4gbKS9NvrQSwKtJNA91ksQXD2fLJ1CanI-RvY25smkQ2VPrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Terry Anne Holden, development program manager in the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development’s Office of Community Development, told planners in a March 7 webinar that the state typically receives about $11,000,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Community Development Block Grant programs and divides those funds among housing, infrastructure, business assistance and community enterprise programs.

Holden said the CDBG process is two steps: a letter of intent to establish project eligibility and, when invited, a full application. “One of the first steps being what we call letter of intent,” she said, explaining that the letter lets staff determine whether a community’s project is eligible. She urged communities to begin planning about a year in advance for public infrastructure and downtown revitalization projects because several administrative tasks — notably income surveys and cost estimates — take time to complete.

The most commonly discussed eligibility requirement for infrastructure projects is a growth-area rule cited by Holden as “Public Law 776,” which she said requires growth-related capital investments such as sewer or water main extensions to be located in a designated growth area as defined in an adopted, consistent comprehensive plan. For targeted infrastructure projects, applicants must define the geographic area of the project because that boundary establishes the income-survey universe.

Holden described the income-survey process and review steps: the applicant must perform preliminary outreach and advertising to collect survey responses, have the survey reviewed and signed off by a local economic development agency or a council of governments (for example AFCOG, KVCOG, or NMDC), and then submit the tally as part of the application. She said 70% of CDBG dollars must benefit low- to moderate-income people, which is why projects that are targeted to an LMI universe require careful survey documentation.

Applicants should also provide cost estimates (from engineers or contractors) and document other funding sources and commitments, Holden said. “We will be looking to see that you have your other funds lined up,” she said, adding that CDBG is typically used to fill a remaining funding gap. She recommended contacting a Development Program Manager (DPM) before submitting the letter of intent and warned that late submissions may not be considered.

On the full application, Holden said applicants should front-load the impact section with a clear opening sentence that states the project and the dollar request (for example, “Town of Springvale is requesting $500,000 to replace water lines on Main Street”), explain how the problem was discovered and how it affects low- and moderate-income residents, and summarize the expected number of people served. The strategy section should explain how the CDBG funds will be spent and provide a realistic timetable; the budget section should list and document all other funding sources and commitments. She added that strong citizen-participation documentation — public notice, community meetings and local media coverage — is critical to receiving full points in the scoring process.

Holden closed by offering follow-up assistance and advising applicants to call if they do not receive confirmation of receipt of a letter of intent. In a brief question-and-answer session after the presentation, Holden listed common CDBG-funded activities beyond sewer projects — including water mains, facades, streetscapes, lighting and limited accessibility work — and clarified that some public-facility programs (for example, full fire-station replacement) are not currently funded under the state allocation.","Maine’s Office of Community Development (DECD) summarized how communities should prepare CDBG letters of intent and full applications, emphasizing planning about a year ahead for infrastructure projects, required income surveys for targeted areas, and the need to document other funding commitments.","actionData","errors"]

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Maine DEP details SRF, principal forgiveness and PFAS funding options for wastewater and stormwater projects

Maine DECD outlines CDBG application basics; stresses income surveys and planning lead time