The Town of Rockport has secured the final funding needed to fully implement the East Side Working Waterfront Resilience Project, a initiative of the Harbor Strategic Plan. With the recent award of a $2 million grant through the Maine Department of Transportation's Working Waterfront Infrastructure Fund, the project is now fully funded at $4 million, according to an Aug. 17 news release from the Town.

The East Side Working Waterfront Resilience Project seeks to improve the long-term sustainability, safety, and resilience of Rockport Harbor's working waterfront infrastructure in the face of coastal storm impacts. 

In 2024, Rockport secured a $2 million state resilience grant through a one-time funding opportunity to help coastal communities protect vulnerable properties from storm damage. The award covered a significant portion of construction costs but required the Town to identify additional funding sources for the remaining project expenses. 

Since receiving the initial award, municipal staff pursued numerous grant opportunities to close the funding gap. While several applications were unsuccessful because the project fell outside specific funding criteria, Rockport remained committed to finding a solution, the release said.

That persistence paid off with the Town's recent award of a $2 million grant through the Maine Department of Transportation's Working Waterfront Infrastructure Fund. The award, pending final contract execution, will fund the remaining project costs, including design, engineering, and construction activities. 

"This funding milestone represents a tremendous accomplishment for Rockport and our harbor community," said Town Manager Jon Duke, in the release. "By securing these grant dollars, the Town can advance a critical infrastructure project without relying on local taxpayers to fund the full cost. The project will strengthen the harbor's resilience, support commercial marine activity, and preserve this important community asset for generations to come." 

 Project Improvements

The East Side Working Waterfront Resilience Project includes: 

• Climate Resilience Sea Wall Improvements
• Raise site elevations by approximately two feet to reduce flooding impacts.
• Repair and structurally reinforce the existing bulkhead and seawall.
• Stabilize sub grade soils and restoring damaged pavement.
• Environmental Risk Mitigation
• Improve the Main Street sewer pump station to match the final site elevation
• Install Main Street sewer pump station emergency generator to reduce risk of overboard discharge.
• Construct secondary containment for the harbor diesel fuel tank.
• Working Waterfront Improvements
• Construct earthwork to prepare for a new fisherman’s pier
• Upgrade site lighting to improve operational safety.
• Site Improvements
• Create a new pedestrian pathway with landscaping improvements.
• Elevate Boat Club building.

Next Steps

With the funding package now complete, the Town will finalize grant agreements with both funding agencies and obtain the required notices to proceed before initiating project Design and Engineering. Design and Engineering services have already been awarded through a competitive Request for Proposals process to Woodard & Curran. 

Once design and engineering tasks are complete, Rockport will solicit construction bids, select a contractor through a competitive process, and begin construction. 

The project marks a major step forward in implementing the Rockport Harbor Strategic Plan and ensuring that the harbor remains a resilient, functional, and accessible working waterfront for commercial fishermen, harbor users, residents, and visitors for decades into the future. 

For more information about the Harbor Strategic Plan and ongoing waterfront improvement efforts, visit RockportMaine.gov/HarborPlan.