The Riverfront Community Development Bond: Promotes Sustainable Development Along Maine’s Rivers
Communities across the state have rediscovered clean and healthy rivers as a key to increasing economic opportunities and protecting Maine’s way of life. To leverage community investments and bring about river-based economic revitalization projects, a bi-partisan group of legislators has introduced a $25 million Riverfront Community Development Bond. With more than 30,000 miles of rivers in the state, and more than half of Maine citizens living in riverfront communities, the potential benefits of a river bond are enormous.
In recent years, Maine people have become able to once again safely enjoy our magnificent rivers. In many rivers across the state, people can once again swim, fish, and canoe. Local communities have begun looking to seize opportunities to revitalize their riverfronts to improve the economy and quality of life in their towns. Habitat restoration projects on rivers are starting to result in the return of long-diminished runs of sea-run fish and have helped to make our river ecosystems healthier and more vibrant.
The Riverfront Community Development Bond, which will require at least a $2 match for every $1 from this fund, will create a competitive grants program to support voluntary, community-driven projects across Maine to promote and enhance environmentally sustainable economic activity along rivers. It will help local communities revitalize their riverfronts by transforming areas along rivers into productive use. The bond will help restore and improve habitat for fish and wildlife, develop and promote a range of public uses supporting new jobs, public access, boating and fishing; and leverage other private and public resources.
Updates on the rivers bond
(11/6/07) River bond passed by Maine voters!
(4/4/07) River bond included in bond package – The Legislature approved $5 million in bond funding as part of a $295 million bond package that will be voted on starting this summer, then the following two November elections. Senator Peggy Rotundo introduced legislation calling for $25 million in funding for the Riverfront Community Development Bond. Through intense negotiations over the weekend of April 1st and 2nd, the River Bond faced significant pressure. The $5 million level was included in Governor Baldacci’s bond package announced in late March. The Rivers Bond funding will appear as part of a bond question asking voters if they support borrowing $35.5 million for land conservation, rivers, working waterfronts, parks and historic sites, and other purposes.
Read the ballot question that appeared on the ballot.
(3/22/2007) Bipartisan Support Builds for River Bond – Senator Peggy Rotundo’s Riverfront Community Development Bond
(LD 1677) was printed and has 69 cosponsors – including 24 Republicans. This appears to be the largest, bipartisan group of original supporters of any of the bond bills introduced this session. Republican supporters include the House Minority Leader (Rep. Josh Tardy), Speaker of the House (Rep. Glenn Cummings), House Majority Leader (Rep. Hannah Pingree), Senate President (Sen. Beth Edmonds), Senate Majority Leader (Sen. Libby Mitchell) and many other influential lawmakers of both parties. Click here for full list of sponsors.
(1/9/07) Lawmakers Launch River Bond Initiative – Supporters of a Riverfront Community Development Bond met in the State House today to announce their support for funding that would help spur river-based economic revitalization projects. Sen. Peggy Rotundo (D-Androscoggin) is the lead sponsor of a $25 million bond that would allow Maine’s Department of Community and Economic Development to invest in projects that take advantage of the increasingly clean rivers that flow through so many of Maine’s towns. The bipartisan group of legislators, and a broad base of community and environmental groups, heralded the idea of providing state funds that would leverage community and private investments in riverfront communities.
Maine voters approved $17 million for the Land for Maine’s Future Program and $5 million for the Riverfront Community Development Bond as part of a package of funding that appeared as a single question on the November 6th ballot. The wording of the question was:
“Do you favor a $35,000,000 bond issue to invest in land conservation, water access, wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation opportunities, including hunting and fishing, farmland and working waterfront and to invest in state parks, historic sites and riverfront, community and farm infrastructure to be matched by at least $21,875,000 in private and public contributions?”