Community Benefits Fund
On November 7, 2018 the Hancock County Commissioners agreed to make the Community Benefit Grant application available, and approved up to $100,000 in this grant period.
Applications can be dropped off or mailed to the County Administrator at 50 State Street, Suite 7, Ellsworth, Maine 04605 in a sealed envelope and clearly marked on the outside of the envelope, COMMUNITY BENEFIT GRANT APPLICATION. The application period will be open until 4:00 p.m. on Monday, December 31, 2018. Applications received after December 31, 2018, in person or by mail, will not be considered.
April 5, 2021
A Community Benefit Fund grant cycle is not open at this time. Please check back for future grant opportunities
At the Commissioners’ Special Meeting held on May 22, 2018, the Hancock County Commission postponed the Community Benefits Grant Cycle until further notice.
Community Benefit Funds
In 2011, 19 wind turbines were erected in Township 16, the Hancock County Commissioners negotiated a Community Benefit and TIF (Tax Increment Financing) agreement with Blue Sky East in the amount of approximately $435,000. per year, for the next 20 years. The approximate megawatt cost per turbine was $5,848. Of that amount, $200,001 per year was designated for Community Benefits.
Community Benefit funds may be utilized for public purposes including, but not limited to, property tax reduction, economic development projects, land and natural resource conservation, tourism promotion, or reduction of energy costs.
In addition to these benefits, the County Commissioners negotiated with Blue Sky East to provide and erect a 150 foot emergency communications tower, provide a building for communication equipment and to provide and install an emergency generator. Blue Sky also agreed to provide year round access and road maintenance to the tower site. This tower will provide emergency radio coverage to the northern part of the county. Blue Sky East also allowed the county $25,000 towards attorney fees and professional services during negotiations. The county has engaged Roxanne Jobe of Eastern Maine Development Corporation to assist the commissioners in identifying projects for Community Benefits and TIF funds.
Grant funds associated with this project will be awarded in the near future!!