Impacts
​As part of MCOG's Strategic Plan, the region must update the Midcoast Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Plan (required by the Federal Economic Development Administration; EDA). CEDS is an opportunity to set goals and objectives together as a region and is an important way to leverage each other’s efforts. It also is a way to secure federal grant funds by identifying high priority investments needed for the region.
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In the 2025 CEDS, there are three Measures of Sustainability:
MCOG has established these Measures of Growth to track the Midcoast region's progress towards the CEDS goals.​​​​​​​​ These will be updated annually, using a mix of American Community Survey, ME Department of Labor, IRS, ME Department of Marine Resources, and other public data. There are several objectives that are not measured annually and will instead be considered through narrative or quantitative data when MCOG completes its 5-year update in 2030.
Measures of Community Sustainability
Affordable and attainable housing
Ensure a 10% increase in housing starts
Maintain a 5% vacancy rate in rental housing
(excluding short-term rentals)
Ensure a measurable increase in affordability
according to MaineHousing indices
Ensure an increase in housing units available to workers at 80-120% area median income
Ensure every MCOG Community makes measurable progress toward one or more of these housing objectives
Quality of Place
Attract and retain 5% more residents of workforce age
Utilize the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority
Ensure that 100% of MCOG towns have a current Comprehensive Plan or are actively working on it
Increase historic preservation or funding for facades and adaptive reuse
Increase greenspace/preserved lands/street trees planted/park development/redevelopment
Community Vitality
Increase shared services across municipalities
Ensure every MCOG community is enrolled in Community Resilience Partnership
Increase population age variation
Increase population by in-migration*
*Data includes Lincoln, Knox, Sagadahoc, and Waldo counties
Increase use of alternative transportation
Substantially save on regional energy costs through electrification initiatives
Measures of Business and Workforce Sustainability
Diverse Economy
Grow key areas of opportunity by 10% in 5 years:
Manufacturing
Aviation and Space
Blue Economy
Energy Economy
Natural Resource Economy
Outdoor Economy
Creative Economy
Health Care and Direct Care
Hospitality and Ecotourism
Increase the number and capacity of daycare businesses*
*Data includes Lincoln, Knox, Sagadahoc, and Waldo counties
Workforce and Human Capital
Increase available workforce by 5% in 5 years
Measures of Public Infrastructure and Natural Resources Sustainability
Public Infrastructure – Transportation
Create a used and useful regional transportation strategy
Establish a daily passenger rail from Brunswick to Rockland
Public Infrastructure – Public Access
Double the amount of State & Federal funds brought to the region for municipal infrastructure projects within 5 years
Preserve and improve working waterfront access
Ensure all coastal communities have looked at projected sea level rise and identified infrastructure vulnerabilities
Preserve and improve marine access for uses other than commercial fishing
Create plans to improve condition of at-risk infrastructure
Natural Resources
Fund the Brownfield Program: assessments and cleanups
Ensure there is sufficient agricultural land for serving local markets and for food security
Ensure aquaculture sites meet current and future needs
Substantially reduce invasives and algal blooms
Increase physically interconnected natural areas across communities for trails, wildlife corridors, and pollinator corridors