Thu, 12/08/2022 - 11:15am

BILL PEARSON

Executive Director Mary Ellen Barnes, left, and County Planner Emily Rabbe told commissioners Dec. 6, Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission received a $234,000 Maine Connectivity Grant. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register

Lincoln County has received a Regional Broadband Partnership Grant for digital inclusion and digital equity planning. Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Mary Ellen Barnes reported Dec. 6, LCRPC would use these funds to help communities learn how to better access internet services. Lincoln is working with neighboring counties Sagadahoc, Knox and part of Waldo in administering the grant.

Lincoln County’s portion was $234,000. The grant funds two years of providing assistance in best demonstrated practices in using their cell phones and tablets. Barnes envisions staff working with residents in libraries and community centers demonstrating how to use technology. “This helps people to better use and access the internet,” she said. “We will hire additional staff and share lessons learned about using technology. The grant funds additional full-time employees who help residents with their questions.”

Barnes added the grant would also assist municipalities in buying technological equipment. The planning commission is also helping communities seek American Rescue Plan Act broadband funding. Barnes reported Maine Connectivity Authority has two current programs. One is called “Reach Me” which extends internet service provider utility lines. The second is “Connect the Ready” which is a competitive grants program encouraging proactive partnerships and collaborative efforts for designing, funding and building broadband infrastructure projects in eligible areas.

MCA is entering its second phase of accepting applications. In Round 1, the planning commission helped some county municipalities secure “Reach Me” grants. Newcastle and LCI Fiber each invested $60,000 into their broadband partnership, and received a $60,000 match. Barnes reported their collaboration serves 257 households. Nobleboro and LCI Fiber each invested $50,000, and received a matching grant. Their partnership serves 214 homes. South Bristol was the third receiving a matching grant. South Bristol also worked with LCI Fiber with investing $80,000 and received a grant match. Their partnership serves 343 households.

LCRPC received commissioners’ approval to extend its annual contract with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Forestry. The extension is for six months running from Dec. 1 to June 30. The state is paying LCRPC an additional $10,539.03.

Lincoln County decided against applying for an Efficiency Maine electric vehicle charging station grant. Efficiency Maine is offering two different rebates for applicants. One is for constructing an in-network charging station which had two Level 2 chargers and allowed for credit card payments. The second rebate is for a Level 1 charger which isn’t part of a network. Applicants who install a Level 2 charger would receive a $7,000 rebate and Level 1 stations would receive a $2,000 rebate. But an approaching application Jan. 17 deadline and stations’ overall installation cost resulted in commissioners deciding against submitting an application.

There would be a rebate of $7,000 if an applicant bought a network charging station and $2,000 for a non-network one. “I don’t think there is time to pursue this,” County Administrator Carrie Kipfer said. “The units also cost over $50,000, and we don’t have enough in our capital reserves to cover the cost.”

The commission received an interim housing report later Dec. 6. Barnes invited commissioners to attend the evening presentation. In August, the county contracted with Camion Associates of Saratoga Springs, New York for a county-wide housing study. Barnes expects the completed report by February or March. “Tonight, we will receive an interim report on their data collection and data review,” County Planner Emily Rabbe said. “The study is also looking in more detail about economic and data trends and looking at how the housing inventory has changed in the past 20 years.”