MAINE PUBLIC • October 3, 2024
A handful of state planning and community resilience programs will be reorganized under a new, standalone office in the Maine executive branch to better serve municipalities. The Legislature approved the idea for the Office of Community Affairs earlier this year. Gov. Janet Mills announced Thursday that Samantha Horn, a former science director for The Nature Conservancy of Maine and a former official with the Land Use Planning Commission, will serve as the office's new leader. The new office will help towns with limited resources apply for climate resilience grants and address local housing shortages.