Growsmart Maine

Growsmart Maine is a non-profit organization registered in SAM.gov since July 12, 2019, with its primary office located in Augusta, Maine. As a statewide organization, Growsmart Maine helps communities manage change through convening, advocacy, and capacity-building, with a focus on collaborative regional development initiatives. The organization is structured as a corporate entity with tax-exempt status and has demonstrated expertise in working with government, for-profit, and non-profit stakeholders across various sectors, particularly in rural community development and food systems.

Growsmart Maine has recently received federal grant awards from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service and Rural Utilities Service, focusing on regional food system partnerships and community facilities development. The organization's most significant recent award is a $248,552 federal Project Grant supporting the Downeast Food System Partnership (DFSP), which aims to expand local food production, access, and economic opportunities in rural Maine. The grant involves conducting regional outreach, community listening sessions, establishing a regional food system network, and facilitating annual convenings to identify shared needs and economic growth opportunities. Additionally, Growsmart Maine received a Community Facilities Technical and Training Grant and a Rural Cooperative Development Initiative Grant, both of which support infrastructure and community development projects. The organization collaborates with partners like Healthy Acadia, Sunrise County Economic Council, and Hancock County Planning Commission to implement these initiatives, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to rural community enhancement and economic development.