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Otisfield committee faces roughly $250,000 funding gap to buy community forest after $510,000 appraisal
Summary
The Otisfield Conservation Committee learned a January appraisal valued the Community Forest at $510,000; the project holds a $25,000 Maine Community Foundation gift and a $250,000 Land for Maine’s Future award but still needs about $250,000. Members discussed bridge loans, foundation grants and adding the McKay Parcel to close the gap.
The Otisfield Conservation Committee on Jan. 6 reviewed financing options after an appraisal for the town’s proposed community forest came in at $510,000.
Lee Dassler, speaking for the project, said the committee has secured a $25,000 award from the Maine Community Foundation and had previously been awarded $250,000 from Land for Maine’s Future, but the appraisal leaves roughly $250,000 still to raise to complete the purchase. Lee outlined three funding paths to fill the gap: an application to the Federal Lands and Waters Conservation Fund, an application to the Fidelity Foundation and the possible addition of the McKay Parcel to expand the property and alter financing needs.
The Federal Lands and Waters Conservation Fund could fund up to $1 million for municipal purchases, but applications are due by June 2026 and awards are not finalized until late June; Dassler said that timing likely requires a short-term “bridge” loan so the purchase can close on schedule. He said he planned to meet Adam Fisher on Jan. 7 to discuss a potential conservation-fund loan through WFLT to bridge timing differences.
A second option is applying to the Fidelity Foundation; Dassler said the foundation’s grant application is due in March 2026, carries a minimum request of $100,000 and, if the town were to hold the land, would require an easement. Because Fidelity’s award timing also may not align with the planned closing, staff noted the town would likely need bridge financing even if the Fidelity application succeeds.
The committee also discussed enlarging the purchase by adding the McKay Parcel to the Two Ponds property, creating approximately 180 acres. Select person Rick Micklon agreed to investigate that option and whether town harvest funds could be used toward the purchase; committee member Peter Tilkmeter said he would check with the town on whether public hearings would be required to pursue grant applications or to unite the parcels.
No motion to commit town funds or to borrow was recorded at the meeting; the minutes show continued exploration of grant applications, potential bridge financing and the parcel-expansion idea. Lee said he would update the committee at the next meeting or sooner if circumstances change.
Committee business continues at meetings scheduled March 17 and April 2, 2026.
