Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission

SMPDC is soliciting proposals for consultant services to support the development of the Southern Maine Energy Resilience Plan! View the full Request for Proposals and learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gkdFCcZ

Registration is now open! Municipal staff, committee members, and community orgs, join SMPDC and the University of New England for the Southern Maine Climate Action Workshop on Wednesday, November 13th at UNE’s Biddeford Campus. This workshop is designed to foster collaboration on implementing impactful climate actions in southern Maine. The workshop will feature a panel discussion showcasing towns actively pursuing their climate action plans, breakout sessions on implementing climate actions in specific focus areas, and a keynote address from climate expert Susanne Moser, Ph.D. Register now at: https://lnkd.in/g7Tx39gu

Calling all municipal staff, committee members, and community orgs! Join SMPDC and UNE on November 13th for the Southern Maine Climate Action Workshop at the University of New England’s Biddeford Campus. The workshop will focus on fostering collaboration among communities and partner organizations to support climate action implementation efforts in southern Maine. It will also include a keynote address from leading expert on climate change adaptation and communication, Susanne Moser, Ph.D.   Agenda and registration info coming soon!

One more week to apply for our Community Planner & GIS Specialist position. Thanks to those of you who have shared it!

We need your input to help plan for the future of transportation! 🚗 If you drive, walk, or bike in southern Maine, take this 10-minute survey to tell us what you like and dislike about transportation in the region. The Kittery Area Comprehensive Transportation System (KACTS) will use your feedback in the development of Southern Maine in Motion, a 20-year plan for transportation in this region. Take the survey at https://lnkd.in/gzW4AUna!

The Maine Climate Council is updating the State's climate action plan, Maine Won't Wait! Join them in Biddeford on Thursday, September 19th to weigh in on which climate actions are most important to you.

SMPDC is looking for a Community Planner & GIS Specialist. Our direct land use services are a key part of our mission, and GIS mapping touches every corner of our work. Please share with your networks!

In case you haven't heard! New leader takes reins at Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission as the nonprofit organization celebrates its 60th anniversary Stephanie Carver is named the new Executive Director after Paul Schumacher’s 27 year tenure Saco, Maine…After an extensive search, Stephanie Carver has been named to replace Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (SMPDC) long-time Executive Director Paul Schumacher who is stepping down this summer. SMPDC was founded 60 years ago to provide planning and economic development services to municipalities located in Southern Maine - offering a coordinated effort for land use, smart growth, resource management, environmental sustainability, and transportation planning.   Carver has served as SMPDC  Transportation Director since 2020. She is a veteran planner with a masters in urban and regional planning and has led significant transportation efforts for SMPDC. Carver says, “I am thrilled to take the reins from Paul. He has brought together an incredibly talented group of professionals, creating an organization that both encourages innovation and supports the needs of our municipal membership. I look forward to building on this approach, working with our local, state and federal partners to continue to bring valuable financial resources, innovation and expertise to the region.” The decision to hire Stephanie Carver was a unanimous one by SMPDC’s Board of Directors. According to Schumacher, “Stephanie’s competency and experience will make this leadership transition a seamless one. Personally, I have known Stephanie for years as a colleague in the economic development and planning realms. These last four years at SMPDC, I have come to appreciate her not just as a colleague but as a friend. I can’t think of a better choice to lead our talented and creative staff into the future.” About Stephanie Carver Before joining SMPDC, Carver worked as the Planning Director for the Greater Portland Council of Governments, and served as a municipal planner in several towns in Massachusetts. Growing up in the New Hampshire seacoast, she graduated from Wheaton College in Massachusetts and holds a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of New Orleans. For the last four years, she’s led the expansion of SMPDC’s Municipal Planning Organization (MPO) from five to nine municipalities to coordinate transportation projects in the region with the Maine Department of Transportation (DOT). She has also led the Joint Land Use Study (JLUS), the collaborative planning initiative between Kittery and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNS) to address transportation, workforce housing, land use and climate/economic resilience.

Our direct services to municipal planning boards and long-range community planning are the backbone of our organization, and housing is a growing piece of that. Reach out to learn more about this land use & housing focused opportunity!

SMPDC's long-time director, Paul Schumacher, is retiring in July - and our search for the right candidate is underway. Our organization has grown immensely throughout Paul's tenure - read on to learn more, and for application details.