The Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission is leading the communities of Biddeford, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, and Kittery through a collaborative cohort process to develop a unique local climate action plan for each community. The process will leverage collective resources and utilize a regional approach, while specific work to develop the plans and identify local climate impacts, vulnerabilities, goals, and strategies will be tailored to individual communities. By sharing administration, technical assistance, outreach efforts, and facilitation, participating communities will receive efficiencies in time and resources. The cohort will also enable peer-learning and for communities to share best practices to inform plan strategies and implementation plans. Additionally, the comparison and coordination of strategies across the participating communities will provide the opportunity to consider potential regional goals and strategies.

Fourth Economy is supporting SMPDC's efforts by facilitating community-specific and regional public engagement and outreach activities. Each participating community will establish a community task force to oversee the climate action planning process and to lead public engagement in their community. In this way, each municipality’s task force will ensure that each community is deeply engaged in the climate action planning process.

SMPDC and Fourth Economy along with ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability will support each community task force throughout the planning process and development of their climate action plan. Throughout the course of the cohort, representatives from each community task force will periodically meet to share their efforts and discuss regional climate issues, planning challenges, and opportunities for regional or multi-municipality approaches.

Learn more about this project at somainecapcohort.com