Lincoln County commissioners awarded four towns American Rescue Plan Act grants Nov. 5 for affordable housing projects. Commissioners awarded Wiscasset, Newcastle, Waldoboro and Monhegan Island grants. In 2023, commissioners created the $1.5 million affordable housing fund.

Monhegan Island received $50,000 to hire a consultant who will work with the plantation and local land trust in determining housing options. The consultant will also work with the state land use planning commission for updating their requirements. "This will hopefully reduce minimum lot size so more lots can hold more housing," Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Emily Rabbe said. 

Newcastle received $120,000 to retain a tax-acquired property parcel. Rabbe told commissioners town officials need to compensate the previous owner for the property's appraised value. The town has hired an appraiser who is expected to finish by year's end. "The benefit of this parcel is that it's adjacent to another property being developed for affordable housing; Newcastle is keeping the lot under ownership and hiring a developer to create more affordable housing.

Newcastle is looking to use the planned 32 affordable housing units to house first responders and municipal employees, according to Rabbe. 

Waldoboro received a combined $65,000 for two projects: a water expansion project and having a consulting firm review housing and rental units in town. The funding for water expansion covers ledge probing and wetlands delineation. "They need this information to finalize concept plans for public water and seek construction grant funding. So hopefully, its finalizing a project they've been working on for a while." 

The second piece engages a consulting firm for a detailed review of housing and rental units available in Waldoboro. Rabbe told commissioners this study builds on the 2023 Lincoln County Housing Assessment. 

 Wiscasset received $240,000 for an engineer and land use planning firm to perform a regulatory analysis including a survey, environmental analysis, traffic study and market analysis on a 300-acre, town-owned property on Old Ferry Road. The funding would also go to developing concept site plans based on the regulatory analysis. The town would hold public engagement sessions to look at property needs and the desires of Wiscasset residents.  

LCRPC is still reviewing Damariscotta's application for affordable housing grants. 

Commissioners approved two $2,500 ASK (assistance with specific know-how) grants. LCRPC received five grant applications and recommended Newcastle and Dresden as recipients. Rabbe told commissioners Dresden sought a grant for developing plans for a new transfer center building. She reported the current building was in poor shape with animals invading the structure. The building also needs better climate control as summers are "too hot" and winters "unbearably cold."

The second $2,500 grant went to Newcastle to hire staff for preparing a long-term road surface management plan. County Administrator Carrie Kipfer told commissioners the town has appropriate software for creating a management plan, but no one to gather data. 

Commissioners hired Alex Zipparo as the regional planning commission's economic and community development planner. Zipparo previously worked for the Island Institute as a community development officer. This is a new position created by the county.