For a copy of the Program Announcement and the Project Inquiry form please fill out the form on the Request Information page.

Program Announcement
Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program (WWAPP)
Funding opportunities available

History

Passage of the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) Bond in November of 2005 established a unique working waterfront protection program, funded at the level of $2 million for projects that protect strategically significant working waterfront properties whose continued availability to commercial fisheries businesses is essential to the long-term future of this economic sector.

The Maine Legislature and voters recognize the need to take action to protect and secure commercial fishing access at a time when increasing demands for coastal waterfront lands and rising land values and property taxes are making it difficult for commercial fishing businesses to retain working access to the water. There is often a significant difference between the market value of a waterfront property and a reasonable business value of the property for commercial fishing purposes. The WWAPP was created to assist commercial fishing businesses and others to fill this financial gap when ownership is changing, property owners need to secure their working access or properties are threatened with conversion out of commercial fisheries.

With the first round of allocations made and significant properties that support Maine’s fisheries protected forever, the WWAPP has funds available to consider funding additional projects.

Appropriate Use of Funds

Financial awards may be used for projects that include land used for walk-in and small boat access for worming, clamming and similar harvesting activities, property dedicated in entirety to commercial fisheries use, or mixed use properties where the portion used to support commercial fishing business can be clearly delineated and its use secured. There is a strong program preference for projects that protect and secure use of existing, established fishing access sites and facilities over projects that might involve development of new access sites and facilities. These funds are available to private businesses, cooperatives, municipalities, or other qualified organizations for projects that will provide permanent use of property providing waterfront access for commercial fisheries business.

Funds can be used for property acquisitions in the form of access easements, rights of way, development rights, full title or other permanent interest in the land. Support for such acquisitions requires permanent and secure assurance that the property may not be used, altered or developed in a manner that precludes its use by commercial fisheries businesses. This is typically done through a working waterfront covenant held by the State. Funds can also be used to secure permanent protection for an existing ownership through the sale of a working waterfront covenant to the State. In addition, the State of Maine will retain a right of first refusal on the property in order to assure affordability to fishing businesses regardless of future ownership.

Program Requirements

Match: Each award shall require that the recipient provide matching funds at least equal to the amount of the request, a minimum of a 1:1 ratio. Some project expenses can be included as match such as the cost of appraisal, lawyer fees, and consultant fees for an EHA, plus bargain sale values and cash contributed to the purchase of the property. In the case of sale of development rights on an existing property, the retained value of the property after the covenant is applied can be counted as match.

Funds: Funds are intended to address a demonstrated financial need. The amount of the award will be based on the value of the working waterfront covenant as established by appraisal, or demonstrated financial need or 25% of the property’s fair market value as established by an appraisal, whichever is greater up to the limits of the required match.

Permanency: As a condition of any acquisition and grant made under this program the property may not be used, altered or developed in a manner that precludes its use by commercial fisheries businesses. This protection is to be assured through a working waterfront covenant or other appropriate legally binding deed restriction. As an additional condition, the state will retain a permanent right of first refusal on any property receiving grant allocations.

State Agency Involvement

The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) will administer the program in conjunction with the Land for Maine’s Future Board (LMFB) with assistance from the State Planning Office. The DMR has created a Working Waterfront Team consisting of Coastal Enterprises Inc. and the Island Institute to work directly with potential applicants. This team is available to assist and advise project applicants with program details and the application process. Project applicants are strongly encouraged to work with the Working Waterfront (WWF) Team to assure that proposals are complete and meet minimum program requirements. While the DMR is responsible for running the program the actual award decisions will be made by the Land for Maine’s Future Board (LMFB).

Application Process

Potential applicants will first need to complete and submit a Project Inquiry Form to the WWF Team. Upon review and agreement that the project meets the basic program criteria full project proposals will be developed by the applicants with the assistance of the WWF Team to assure the development of sound projects and complete applications. Applications will be scored based on the project requirements and selection criteria by a Review Panel appointed by the Commissioner of the DMR. The Commissioner will in turn submit selected projects to the LMFB for funding allocations and grant awards. Upon notification of funding support, project applicants will work with the DMR, the WWF Team, and LMF staff to complete the acquisition.

Proposal Evaluation Criteria and Scoring

A total of 100 points is available in the scoring process.

  1. Economic Significance of the Property (30 pts)
  2. Alternative Properties in the Vicinity (20 pts)
  3. Degree of Community Support (10 pts)
  4. Level of Threat of Conversion (20 pts)
  5. Utility of the Property for Commercial Fisheries Business (20 pts)

Project Timeline and Deadline

Upon completion of the Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program’s Project Inquiry Form if the project appears to meet program criteria applicants will be connected with a member of the WWF Team in their area to work through the application materials. All projects must be completed within a year of funding allocation.

For a copy of the Program Announcement and the Project Inquiry form please fill out the form on the Request Information page.