Camden and Rockport, in partnership with Camden Climate Action Now (CamdenCAN), received a joint Community Action Grant from the Maine Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. The funding comes through the state’s Community Resilience Partnership.

The project, “Climate Action Through Collaboration: Building Resilience in Camden and Rockport,” will support two primary initiatives: a regional energy coaching program and a public outreach campaign focused on emergency preparedness.

Rockport previously received a $50,000 Community Action Grant in 2022 to assess local vulnerabilities. That work, led by the Rockport Conservation Commission, included a Social Vulnerability Assessment that will help guide this new project.

This is the fourth Community Resilience Grant for the town of Camden, according to a news release from the Rockport Conservation Commission.

The first grant helped with the purchase of an electric school bus for the district; the second provided some of the funds for the purchase of an EV for the Code Enforcement Office; and the third grant provided the principal funds for Camden’s Harbor Resilience Planning project currently completing with Richardson Associates.

“This new collaborative grant builds on the Rockport Conservation Commisson’s past efforts and expands the focus to community-wide preparedness and energy efficiency based on the vulnerabilities we found in the region,” said Meggan Dwyer of the Rockport Conservation Commission, in a news release. “It’s a natural evolution of the work we’ve already begun.”

CamdenCAN has been a leader in local climate initiatives and will lead much of the community engagement. The nonprofit supported Camden’s harbor resilience planning with lectures and public outreach.

“CamdenCAN is excited and honored to be able to work with both communities on Energy Literacy/Coaching and Emergency Preparedness outreach. Since our founding two years ago we’ve heard from community members that they’re eager to act–with this grant we’ll be able to build a program that provides an entry point for residents, helping reduce midcoast Maine’s greenhouse gas emissions via home energy programs, and also improve resilience through neighborhood planning and participation,” said Molly Mulhern, of CamdenCAN.

The project includes two main components:

Camden/Rockport Energy Coaching Program

Modeled after successful programs like York Ready for Climate Action and Brooklin’s Neighbor-to-Neighbor program, this free initiative will connect local volunteer energy coaches with residents—particularly renters, older adults, and low- to moderate-income households.

Coaches will help residents identify opportunities for weatherization, energy savings, and upgrades like heat pumps.

Emergency Preparedness Outreach Campaign

This campaign will evaluate current town-level emergency resources and provide accessible guidance on preparing for events like flooding, wildfires, and severe storms. Outreach will be coordinated with the energy coaching program to ensure broad participation with a focus on vulnerable populations.

This project advances the goals of Maine Won’t Wait, the state’s four-year climate action plan, and strengthens both towns’ ongoing participation in the Community Resilience Partnership.

In alignment with the Maine Climate Office’s call for CRP communities to broaden public awareness of climate impacts and adaptation opportunities, the project will prioritize the development of a dedicated website and printed outreach materials. These efforts will focus on ensuring transparency, fostering community engagement, and specifically reaching vulnerable populations from the outset.

“Climate resilience isn’t just about infrastructure—it’s about building strong community networks,” said Molly Mulhern. “The same neighbor who helps you with home weatherization might be the one who checks in on you—or even helps you get through a power outage. These connections are what make our communities truly resilient.”

Media contact: Meggan Dwyer conservation@rockportmaine.gov