A Publication Featuring The Information Services Technology of Maine State Government

Geolibrary Offers Parcel Grants to Municipalities

It order to acquire as much digital municipal tax parcel data as possible, the Maine Library of Geographic Information Board (MLGIB) has announced up to $350,000 will be available for grants to municipalities during FY 2005. These grants will assist municipalities in creating, upgrading and converting digital parcel data to Board standards.

Planning for economic development, growth management, environmental resource protection, delivering local and state government services, managing transportation infrastructure, and many other government functions require information about property boundaries. Having convenient access to this local information in a standard format, and in a central repository, assists individual communities and regional planners in various planning activities. In addition, municipalities will also be able to develop a regional outlook for whatever data are being studied.

Grant applications are due May 1, 2004 at 2:00 pm, and may be submitted in either of two categories.

Rapid Development Grants are designed to move parcel data from qualified applicants into the Maine Geolibrary as quickly as possible. Municipalities will be reimbursed for 100% of the cost of providing at least Level 1 Standard data[1] up to a maximum of $1,000.00. Fully completed applications will be evaluated on a first come, first served basis subject to available funds.

Standard Development Grants target more extensive upgrades and improvements to existing or creation of new parcel data. Municipalities will be reimbursed at the rate of:

$3.00 per parcel for providing Level 2 Standard data up to a maximum of $10,000.00, and
$4.00 per parcel for providing Level 3 Standard data or the Engineering Level Standard data up to a maximum of $10,000.00. Municipalities awarded grants must submit an itemized account of conversion and upgrade activities.

Proposals will be evaluated against pre-determined criteria by a review team composed of a representative of the State Planning Office, Maine Revenue Services, Maine Association of Assessing Officers, Maine Office of GIS, and Department of Economic and Community Development. By majority vote, the team will recommend grant awards to the Board for final action. Projects are anticipated to commence in July, when the timetable for FY05 Round 2 Awards will be published.

For more details, and the application form, visit the Request For Proposals for Digital Parcel Mapping Projects portion of the GeoLibrary’s website: http://www.maine.gov/geolib/.

[1] State of Maine Standards for Digital Parcel Files, Version 1.2 , available on the Maine Geolibrary website at http://www.maine.gov/geolib/ or from the Maine Office of GIS, 145 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333.