Growsmart Maine

TO BUILD LASTING PROSPERITY WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT DEFINES MAINE.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: DIRECT OUTREACH TO COMMUNITIES INCLUDED: -MAINE ALLIANCE FOR SMART GROWTH WHICH CONNECTS MAINERS WITH COORDINATED ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES, AND COORDINATES ADVOCACY ON CRITICAL ISSUES. -MAINE BROADBAND COALITION TO SHARE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES WITH COMMUNITIES INTERESTED IN IMPROVING AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO HIGHSPEED INTERNET. -ENERGY EFFICIENCY COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN IN WHICH WE PARTNERED WITH MAINE ENERGY AMERICORPS PROGRAM AND WINDOWDRESSERS TO PLAN FOR FALL 2021 WINDOW INSERT BUILDS IN WINDHAM AND BIDDEFORD -COMMUNICATIONS INCLUDING NEWSLETTERS AND POLICY UPDATES SHARED WITH 3400 SUPPORTERS, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY GUIDES AND INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS WITH INFORMATION INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE READERS TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE ISSUES AROUND MANAGING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND OUTLINE THE TECHNIQUES AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP YOUR TOWN.

SUMMIT 2020 AND ONLINE WEBINARS: GROWSMART'S SUMMIT 2020, ENTITLED "FLEXING THE POWER OF HOME RULE: FORGING A PATH TOWARD REGIONAL SOLUTIONS" OFFERED AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE AND PRAGMATIC DISCUSSION OF THE UNIQUE NEW ENGLAND STRUCTURE OF MUNICIPAL HOME RULE IN A TIME WHEN REGIONAL SOLUTIONS ARE OFTEN CALLED FOR. 125 ATTENDEES SELECTED FROM OUR ANCHOR LOCATION, SATELLITE VENUES, OR FULLY VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION THAT INCLUDED REGIONAL BREAKOUT DISCUSSIONS AND A FOLLOW-UP FORUM. GROWSMART ACTED ON THREE POLICY AREAS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AS PRIME FOR REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT: HOUSING CHOICES, CLIMATE ACTION, AND LAND USE PLANNING. WE ALSO OFFERED TWO VIRTUAL WEBINARS. -"MORE BROADBAND, LESS SPRAWL" WAS OFFERED IN MARCH 2021 TO DEFINE THE NEED TO EMPLOY SOUND LAND USE PRACTICES WHILE EXPANDING ACCESS TO BROADBAND TO MINIMIZE SPRAWLING GROWTH ALONG LINES INTENDED TO PROVIDE BROADBAND TO EXISTING HOMES AND BUSINESSES. IN JUNE 2021, WE OFFERED A WORKSHOP -"SECURING HOUSING CHOICES FOR A WELL-ROUNDED COMMUNITY" WITHIN THE SOUTHERN KENNEBEC WORKING COMMUNITIES CHALLENGE TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEED FOR AND VALUE OF A WIDE RANGE OF HOUSING CHOICES WITHIN ALL MAINE COMMUNITIES.

ADVOCACY: WE FOCUS OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS WHERE OUR UNIQUE VOICE WILL ADD MEANINGFUL CONTEXT WITH STRONG LIKELIHOOD OF IMPACT IN THE OUTCOMES. WE WORK WITHIN COALITIONS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL AND LIMIT ENGAGEMENT AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL TO ISSUES WITH STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE STATE LEGISLATURE ADAPTED TO COVID BY HOLDING MOST COMMITTEE MEETINGS OVER ZOOM. WE PROVIDED TESTIMONY ON TWO DOZEN BILLS AND RESOLVES AS WELL AS NOMINATIONS REQUIRING LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL. AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDED -REGIONAL AND LOCAL LAND USE PLANNING -RACIAL EQUITY -BROADBAND -HOUSING CHOICES AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION -CLIMATE AND ENERGY -BUDGET AND BOND PROPOSALS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE ADVOCATED FOR BOTH THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND THE BUILD BACK BETTER LEGISLATION WITH LETTERS TO OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND VIDEO OUTREACH.