Maine Bicentennial Grants Available to Municipalities

In preparation for Maine’s celebration of the 2020 Bicentennial (I am sure everyone remembers that we became a State in 1820 because of the Missouri Compromise), the State is offering grants to state and local governments, including municipalities, nonprofit organizations, schools and other organizations in partnership with the above. The Maine Bicentennial Commission will be distributing $500,000 as part of this program, with up to 10% of funds set aside for small grants of $500 or less, up to one large grant per county of $10,000, with the remaining funds used to fund grant applications in amounts that range between $500 and $10,000 until all funds are dispersed.

The grants will fund public programs such as lectures, storytelling workshops, discussion groups, and other programs to provide context to the Bicentennial Commemoration and will sponsor events such as parades, fairs and festivals, exhibitions, history projects, curriculum development for schools, student projects and activities, preservation projects and arts performances. Priority will be given to projects that are directly tied to the commemoration of Maine’s Bicentennial, are supported through local matching funds or in-kind contributions, are designed to reach and engage as many members of the diverse communities as are possible, create lasting resources, and involve multiple community partners such as schools. The following four themes are strongly encouraged: 

• Living in Maine 
• The Business of Maine 
• Maine Leads 
• The Maine Character 

Grant applications must be submitted to the Maine Bicentennial Commission, in care of the Maine Arts Commission, to be reviewed by a panel of representatives from the Maine Cultural Affairs Council and from practicing educators. There are three cycles, with application deadlines of September 21, 2019; February 1, 2020; and June 1, 2020. The screening committee will make awards based on the priorities and a distribution geographically across the state. Commemoration activities must involve a public component for participation in the grants and recipients must upload a photo of activities to the Bicentennial Facebook page and complete a brief summarizing of how funds were expended. The money must be expended by March 30, 2021.