Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission

05/22/2026

Today we are welcoming SMPDC’s new Transportation Planner, Matthew Baronas!

Matt brings experience in traffic data collection and analysis, GIS, and financial research to his new role, most recently serving as a Principal Planner at Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission. He is a graduate of Connecticut College where he studied Environmental Science and Architectural Studies while participating in research on Urban Renewal. Outside of the office, he enjoys gravel and road cycling, playing golf, and listening to baseball on the radio.

05/15/2026

“When communities have the support to plan ahead, they are better positioned to make decisions that protect natural resources, reflect community priorities, and build resilience over time.”

Thank you to the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership for this wonderful article highlighting the Town of Eliot’s Open Space Plan. We were thrilled to work with the Eliot Conservation Commission on this project, made possible by the PREPA Grant Program.

Check it out here: https://prepestuaries.org/from-prepa-grant-to-community-vision-eliots-new-open-space-plan/

05/14/2026

Note: The May 18th workshop has been postponed. The June 15th webinar is still on!

Is your community interested in conservation and property tax relief for Maine farms? Check out the Maine Farmland Trust’s upcoming workshops and webinars exploring the Voluntary Municipal Farm Support Program.

UPDATE: The in-person workshop has been postponed, please stay tuned for a new date and in the meantime, join us for the webinar on June 15th.

Join us for two upcoming events exploring the Voluntary Municipal Farm Support Program! Alongside GrowSmart Maine and Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, we are hosting a free in-person workshop and informative Zoom webinar to learn more about the VMFSP and the process for local adoption.

The VMFSP allows towns to create a local, non-permanent agricultural conservation easement program while lowering the property tax burden on farms. Municipalities may develop a VMFSP to enter into farm support arrangements with eligible farmland owners. Owners accepted into a town’s program grant a non-permanent agricultural conservation easement in exchange for full or partial reimbursement of property taxes on their qualifying farmland and farm buildings during the easement term. Statutory changes made in 2025 have increased flexibility with some elements of the VMFSP, making it easier to qualify and adopt. Learn more and RSVP to the events here - https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/events

03/23/2026

Join us in welcoming our new Land Use & Transportation Planner– Britta Brown!

With a background in planning, environmental permitting, and public engagement, Britta will be assisting with a variety of municipal land use and transportation projects. Britta has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development from Rollins College, and a Master’s of Science in Urban, Energy, and Environmental Planning from Aalborg University in Aalborg, Denmark. Outside of work she enjoys surfing, spending time with friends, and knitting.

02/27/2026

Have you heard of microgrids but wondered what they are? Interested in learning if solar and battery could be a back-up power solution for your facility? Join us for Monday’s webinar!

🔋 Let’s Talk about Microgrids and Backup Power
📆 Monday, March 2, 3:00 – 4:00pm
📍 Virtual via Zoom
✅ Register here: https://cbi-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/xwVAVXMLToeL69dHo4GBJQ #/registration

02/17/2026

Join us in welcoming Ava Moseley, our 2026 Resilience Corps Fellow!

Ava joins us through the Greater Portland Council of Governments Resilience Corps program. She will be supporting SMPDC’s Southern Maine Energy Navigator program, providing technical and financial support to residents pursuing home electrification and weatherization. Previously, Ava was a GIS intern with the Town of Cumberland, supporting a range of sustainability and planning projects.

Ava holds a Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College, where she completed a joint major in Geography and Environmental Studies with a minor in Spanish. Outside of work, she enjoys painting, hiking, and spending time with friends.

02/13/2026

Check out our 2026 Digital Inclusion Plan and read how these amazing orgs have helped community members access digital devices and skills:

🛜︎ Sanford Community Adult Education & Louis B. Goodall Memorial Library – Internet Hotspot Program
📚 Age Friendly Biddeford & McArthur Library – Echo Dot Program
💻 Volunteers of America, Northern New England & National Digital Equity Center – Digital Devices for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness
❤️ grahamtastic.org – Keeping Kids Connected
📰 Dyer Library/S**o Museum – Dyer Library Digital Newsroom
🤝 S**opee Valley Adult & Community Education – Community Member Tech Support

Learn more and check out the plan:

01/08/2026

Tune in to next week's webinar from our Southern Maine Energy Navigator program!

💡 Learn what makes up your electric bill, CMP's role in providing you with electricity, and how to save on your bills
🗓️ Wednesday, Jan. 14, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
📍 Zoom webinar
✅ Register at the link below

Learn what makes up your electric bill, CMP's role in providing you with electricity and how to save on your bills!

12/09/2025

Our 3rd annual Southern Maine Digital Opportunity Summit is coming up this Friday, hosted in partnership with the Greater Portland Council of Governments! Coalition members and community leaders from York and Cumberland Counties will gather to celebrate Maine’s digital inclusion successes. This year’s summit will focus on propelling community-driven digital opportunity.

Interested in the mission of closing the digital divide? Join us for a day of community building, conversation, expert panels, and resource sharing.

💻 Southern Maine Digital Opportunity Summit
🗓️ Friday, December 12, 9am – 1pm
📍 USM Gorham Campus Baily Hall
🥘 Lunch and refreshments provided
✅ Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/southern-maine-digital-opportunity-workshop-tickets-1974326873827?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

11/19/2025

Our long-range plan for the KACTS transportation planning region, Southern Maine in Motion, is open for public comment through November 25!

Check out the draft plan and provide your input: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/d94c8173895144de883c117fdaf94599