Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to work closely with the DMR's working waterfront team to assure that their project meets all the program criteria and that their application is complete. There are many individual facets to the application and the team is available to provide support and additional resources as needed to complete all of these pieces.
Upon completion of the application, 20 copies of the packets are to be submitted with all required supporting materials to the DMR's Working Waterfront Team (see the WWAPP Workbook pages for explanation of how to write an application). Application packets will then be checked for completeness and distributed to independent reviewers, and to staff within DMR and LMF. Financial experts will review and comment on the business/operations plan while applications will be reviewed and scored by the DMR Commissioner's Review Panel composed of individuals familiar with the fishing industry. The Commissioner will prepare final recommendations for funding to the Land for Maine's Future Board (LMFB) based on the Review Panel's scores and comments combined with an assessment of the business/operation plan. The LMFB will thoroughly discuss the project proposals, and vote on recommended allocations (award amounts).
There are usually three project review periods in twelve months, with rolling deadline dates every four months. In order for projects to be reviewed, scored and presented to the LMFB for approval, applicants should be aware of and keep the following timeframe in mind.
This pattern will continue on a four month rolling basis until there is no money to allocate.
If the allocation of funds is approved by the Land for Maine's Future Board then the remaining due diligence work will ensue. For example, projects must provide an approved appraisal, a title search, an environment site assessment, an accurate property survey, and a mortgage lenders agreement among others. How long this will take is dependent on how much was done prior to the application being submitted. It is likely that from allocation to covenant signing and delivery of the funds will take nearly a year, but could be sooner or later. This depends on the complexity of the project and the diligence of the applicant to keep working to complete all the required tasks.
For further information or to submit an application, please contact:
Dick Clime, WWAPP Administrator, for Lincoln, Knox, Waldo, Hancock, or Washington Counties. Coastal Enterprises Inc., P.O. Box 268, Wiscasset, ME 04578, tel. 207-535-5191, .
Hugh Cowperthwaite, WWAPP Supervisor, for York, Cumberland, and Sagadahoc Counties. Coastal Enterprises Inc., 2 Portland Fish Pier, Suite 206, Portland, ME 04101, tel. 207-535-2920, .