HARPSWELL — The Interstate Lobster Inc. in Harpswell has been awarded $155,500 in funding from the Land for Maine’s Future Program, which will be used to demolish, replace and expand the wharf at 241 Ash Point Road.
The Land for Maine’s Future Program, under the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, distributed just over $1 million to be used for six projects along the Maine coast in an effort to preserve working waterfronts. These funds have been used to purchase development rights between the state and the working waterfront owners, ensuring the properties will be open to commercial fishing and aquaculture activities.
The wharf, home to 21 co-op members and 20 additional boats, was built in 1978 and has never been renovated. It has cracked underpinnings that cost the co-op $10,000 to $30,000 annually to maintain.
“We need this badly,” said wharf employee Stephan Stack. “The wharf isn’t held up by much.”
Now that the fund allocation has been approved, Interstate Lobster Inc. will need to provide several more documents including an environmental site assessment and a survey of the property.
Tom Miragliuolo, Senior Planner at Land for Maine’s Future, said the renovation of the wharf is predicted to take at least 18 months.
“This isn’t a grant, we’re not just giving them money, said Miragliuolo. “It’s a contract between the landowners and the state.”
That partnership makes this project differ from a typical development grant award, and there have only been a few dozen others like it in the state, according to Miragliuolo. Previous fund allocations can be found throughout the coast of Maine from York to Lubec. Award owners include 10 fishing co-ops, eight private buying stations and three municipal wharves.
The Land for Maine’s Future Program is part of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and strives to conserve land for its natural and recreational value.
Since its establishment in 1987, it has put 25 commercial working waterfronts in the public trust, meaning they will always be used for commercial fishing purposes.
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