Climate Resilience Funding and Finance Study

2026-11-03

The Governor ’ s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future ( GOPIF ) is seeking proposals from qualified Bidders to conduct research and develop recommended funding and financing mechanisms to support resilience initiatives identified in Maine Won ’ t Wait ( 2024 ) and A Plan for Infrastructure Resilience ( 2025 ). GOPIF intends to select one proposal to support the Office in assessing funding and financing solutions . This document provides instructions for submitting proposals , the procedure and criteria by which the awarded Bidder will be selected , and the contractual terms that will govern the relationship between the State of Maine ( State ) and the awarded Bidder . Climate change is accelerating the need for investments in long - term resilience , risk reduction , and climate mitigation in Maine . Resilience needs are growing rapidly due to aging systems , increasingly frequent and severe storms , and growing climate impacts . These conditions are placing pressure on public infrastructure systems and increasing the potential for costly damage and service disruptions . As the costs of preparing for , responding to , and repeatedly recovering from climate - related impacts continue to rise , communities and households are experiencing affordability pressures . Objectives : Identify and Categorize Climate Resilience Needs and Funding Gaps ( 20 %) Examine the full suite of State of Maine climate resilience programs , investments , and related initiatives to establish a clear and comprehensive understanding of current priorities , funding levels , and unmet needs . This objective will focus on defining the scope and magnitude of climate resilience investments across built and natural infrastructure and on identifying gaps that limit the State ’ s , municipalities ’, and households ’ ability to prepare for and respond to climate impacts . The results of this work will inform subsequent phases focused on specific funding and financing mechanisms and implementation strategies . Services may include : Conduct a desk review of Maine Won ’ t Wait Strategy F , A Plan for Infrastructure Resilience , and other relevant reports , to summarize climate resilience priorities and identify gaps . Review existing state - managed grant and loan programs compiled by GOPIF and SRO . Define and confirm which programs and investments qualify as “ climate resilience ,” consistent with industry best practices . Identify and characterize funding and financing sources and limits , including those driven by municipal capacity , affordability , and insurance constraints ( GOPIF will provide the selected Bidder with a memo on community needs and constraints ). Develop an initial categorization framework aligned with existing state resilience goals in close coordination with GOPIF , SRO , and other stakeholders . Identify and categorize resilience needs across statewide , agency , and community infrastructure . Deliverables include , but are not limited to : Meeting notes from related meetings , focus groups , and / or workshops Spreadsheet inventory of existing resilience programs Draft and final report Presentation and slide deck on final report Design of Funding , Financing , Insurance , and Other Risk Mitigation Mechanisms ( 40 %) Building on the needs assessment and categorization completed under Objective 1 , the awarded Bidder will research , develop , and clearly describe a tailored set of potential funding , financing , insurance , and risk - mitigation mechanisms to address identified gaps . The resulting tailored set will provide the State of Maine with a set of differentiated options to inform future policy , programming , and investment decisions related to climate resilience , infrastructure , or other priority climate initiatives defined by GOPIF . The tailored set should reflect varying levels of ambition , complexity , and risk , and be tailored to Maine ’ s policy , fiscal , and institutional context . Services may include : Identify and assess a range of potential funding , financing , and risk - mitigation approaches , including public , private , and project - level mechanisms , as appropriate . Design and clearly describe a menu of options that vary in scale , complexity , risk profile , and implementation readiness . Evaluate how different mechanisms could support municipalities with varying levels of capacity , tax base , and administrative resources . Assess opportunities to improve the effectiveness , accessibility , interoperability , or delivery of existing mechanisms through process or administrative improvements . Consider the role of insurance in supporting resilience outcomes , including mechanisms that may improve insurability , affordability , or long - term risk reduction . Deliverables include , but are not limited to : Meeting notes from related meetings , focus groups , and / or workshops Draft and final report Presentation and slide deck on final report Identify Potential Capitalization and Funding Sources ( 40 %) For a limited subset of options identified under Objective 2 , the awarded Bidder will analyze potential capitalization and funding pathways and requirements for operationalization . This analysis will distinguish between one - time capitalization needs and ongoing funding requirements and will assess the feasibility and sustainability of different approaches within Maine ’ s fiscal and institutional context . Services may include : Select , in coordination with GOPIF and relevant stakeholders , a subset of 3 - 5 priority mechanisms from the tailored set and provide deeper analysis . Assess the feasibility , scalability , and sustainability of potential funding and financing pathways , including alignment with existing state authorities and programs . Identify key constraints , risks , and dependencies associated with each capitalization approach . Outline high - level implementation considerations , including governance , prioritization , timeline , and potential next steps . Deliverables include , but are not limited to : Meeting notes from related meetings , focus groups , and / or workshops Draft and final memos for priority mechanisms

Maine

2026-05-01