In June of 2021, a bill was passed directing Volunteer Maine to study the establishment of a Maine Climate Corps and submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. The study identified short-term projects and tasks in state agencies that could be service projects; developed the structure for a Maine Climate Corps in order to best address shifting and expanding climate challenges; and examined existing service programs to identify potential hosts and partnerships for the Maine Climate Corps.
In April of 2022, the Maine Legislature and Governor followed through on the report’s recommendations by passing and signing bipartisan legislation into law to create the Maine Climate Corps and engage Volunteer Maine to coordinate disaster resilience and mitigation efforts. Maine has also now funded a Climate Corps Coordinator with Volunteer Maine who is funded from ARPA dollars. The Maine Legislature dedicated $200,000 for the corps to get off the ground.
In 2022, state funding for climate corps in Maine was released via an RFA to a Community Action Program to launch a weatherization focused program. Energy efficiency was prioritized in the RFA due to the ongoing energy crisis.
The commission is also building relationships with state agencies to identify potential program sponsors and to leverage additional funding and align policies and programs with climate corps goals. 2023-2024 Maine Climate Corps Programs:
- https://boysandgirlsclubofaugustamaine.com/
- https://www.gpcog.org/472/Resilience-Corps
- https://compact.org/current-programs/americorps/campus-climate-action-corps
- https://watershedfriends.com/programs/conservation/runoff-pollution/youth-conservation-corps/
- https://www.islandinstitute.org/priorities/strong-leadership/fellows/
- https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/get_involved/conservation_corps/
- https://volunteermaine.gov/serve-in-maine/service-fellows
- https://thompsonlake.org/: LakeSmart Youth Conservation Corps
- https://windowdressers.org/volunteer/
Structure
Commission initiative supported by legislative guidance with some investment
State connections
Collaboration with Governor’s Office, Dept. of Environmental Protect, Dept of Ag, Conservation and Forestry, Dept of Education. Climate Corps Coordinator sits on Climate Council Community Resilience, Public Health, and Emergency Management Workgroup of the Maine Climate Council.
Resourcing
$201,310 investment from state; one staff person assigned State funding for Climate CorpsAmeriCorpsCommission Support Grant ARPUSFS IRA Community and Urban ForestryEPA EJ Government to Government Program NOAA Climate Resilience Challenge Funding (IRA)
Inter Program Coordination
Climate Corps Task Force (committee of Commission), state, higher ed, and NGO staff participate in oversight.
Network programs complete an application.
Participants are expected to follow expectations:
- Maintains or grows collaborations with other organizations to expand the reach or impact of your Climate Corps program.
- Maintains or grows community volunteer engagement as a part of the Climate Corps program model.
- Maintains or incrementally grows living allowance/stipend for full-time participants to a living wage ($17.88/hour equivalent).
- Maintains or grows civic engagement programming for members.
- Maintains or grows engagement with program beneficiaries, particularly those who have been under-represented, under-resourced, and/or previously excluded, that enables beneficiaries to set priorities and design and implement solutions to the challenges that they face.
- Maintains or grows organizations’ investment in the program manager/leader.
Branding Approach
Not currently engaged in branding, but network is building a common community of practice:
- Membership does not cost programs – there are no dues or participation fees.
- Belonging to a community of practice that shares common goals and concerns, desires to learn about what works and emerging issues, and provides peer support as well as technical assistance.
- Greater visibility as part of a statewide effort. Maine Climate Corps programs are entitled to use the Climate Corps logo on your materials and identify as “[Program Name], a Maine Climate Corps Program”.
- An amplified voice relative to the role your work plays in climate action. When the Network communicates the impact, scope, and scale of climate actions to policy makers, the public, or funders, it represents all members.
- Future: potential grant funding exclusive to Climate Corps Network programs and/or a training curriculum/programs for your member participants.
- Invitations to participate in special events with funders, policymakers, or with potential recruits.
Structure
Commission initiative supported by legislative guidance with some investment
