Economic & Community Development

GPCOG provides a variety of planning and support services to assist the region with their Community and Economic Development needs.

Community Development
Community Development:  Services include planning and strategic assistance for comprehensive and downtown plans, project development, grant writing and professional development opportunities.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): Maine disburses $16 million annually from the CDBG program to cities, towns, and counties on a competitive basis for community and economic development projects.

Housing: Resources include data collection, trends, forecasting tools and research on affordable housing development strategies.

The Data Center: Provides information on Southern Maine communities, including public infrastructure, demographics, education, housing, and the economy.

Economic Development
Southern Maine Economic Development District (SMEDD): Established in 1994 by GPCOG and the Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission (SMRPC) to serve York and Cumberland Counties. As a federally designated Economic Development District, SMEDD’s mission is to promote economic prosperity throughout the region.

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS): Coordinated by SMEDD, CEDS allows York and Cumberland County communities to become eligible for funding from the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA).

Revolving Loan Fund Programs provide capital for area businesses.

The Data Center provides information on Southern Maine communities, including public infrastructure, demographics, education, housing, and the economy.

Staff

Neal Allen, Executive Director
(nallen@gpcog.org)

Caroline Paras, Economic and Community Planner
(cparas@gpcog.org)

Vin DiCara, Loan Officer
(vdicara@gpcog.org)