MCA Awards $311,761 in Digital Resilience Grants ​
The awarded projects span 13 counties and include two statewide initiatives, reflecting a diverse range of approaches. Read the press release here.
Maine Digital Resilience Program
Program Description​
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The Maine Digital Resilience Program will support community-based initiatives that increase awareness and education related to online risks, ultimately helping Maine people safely and meaningfully use the internet.
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The program seeks to build a statewide network of organizations equipped to help Maine residents navigate the digital world while reducing exposure to cyber threats, scams, fraud, misinformation, online exploitation, and privacy risks.
As the first program funded by Maine's Digital Opportunity Fund, it will align with statewide digital opportunity efforts by ensuring that increased internet adoption is accompanied by the knowledge and skills necessary to use digital technologies safely and confidently.​
Who is Eligible?​
Nonprofit organizations, Educational institutions, Public libraries, Regional planning organizations, Tribal and municipal governments, Community action agencies, Public health organizations
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MCA Contact
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Jessica Perez
Senior Manager of Digital Opportunity
(207) 200-4753
​The program is intended to support both direct community education and long-term community capacity building. Grant recipients will participate as a statewide cohort and contribute resources, lessons learned, and successful approaches that can benefit communities throughout Maine.
Maine Digital Resilience Program Awardees, Fall 2026​
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In September 2026, MCA's Board approved seven program awards totaling $311,761.00 that will help Maine residents navigate the digital world safely while reducing their exposure to cyber threats, fraud, and misinformation. The awarded projects span 13 counties and include two statewide initiatives, reflecting a diverse range of approaches: two projects in the capacity-building track and five focused on community education. ​
Avec Community Action | Track 1: Community Education | $50,000​
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Avec Community Action will support Aroostook, Washington, Hancock, Waldo and Knox Counties to increase knowledge of internet safety best practices, improved ability to identify scams and fraudulent communications, greater awareness of cyberbullying prevention and reporting strategies, increased confidence in the safe use of technology, and expanded access to trusted internet safety resources.​
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Coastal Enterprises, Inc. | Track 1: Community Education | $49,238​
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CEI will support Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Androscoggin, Kennebec, York Counties through Scam Smarts for Older Adults, a community-based educational initiative designed to help older Mainers recognize common scams, identify warning signs, protect their personal and financial information,
and know where to turn when they encounter suspected fraud.
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give IT. get IT. | Track 2: Capacity Building | $50,000​
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give IT. get IT. will create an open-source scam and fraud prevention resource center hosted on their website and fully integrate these new resources into the client onboarding process. This project will have statewide impact as it will be promoted and disseminated through give IT. get IT.’s existing networks and programs which serve all 16 counties in Maine.
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McArthur Library | Track 1: Community Education | $50,000​
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Through the York County Digital Risk Initiative (YCDRI), McArthur Library will offer interactive programming series on artificial intelligence, scam prevention, and cyberbullying that target the specific digital literacy concerns of our most at-risk community members throughout York County, particularly seniors, veterans, non-English speakers, individuals with disabilities, and adolescents.
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Millinocket Memorial Library | Track 1: Community Education | $25,825​
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The Millinocket Memorial Library will focus on fraud prevention and teaching best practices in digital safety through education programs: general fraud prevention, promoting online safety for teenagers, and sessions specifically targeting older adults. MML serves Millinocket and surrounding towns in the Katahdin region, including East Millinocket, Medway, Mattawamkeag, and Sherman.
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Somerset Economic Development Corporation | Track 2: Capacity Building | $36,698​
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SEDC will expand the Fraud Awareness & Prevention campaign to include a broader, more inclusive audience within Somerset County, the State of Maine, and beyond. SEDC will create an on-demand video series available on all digital platforms, expand in-person presentations to established groups, and conduct Train-the-Trainer sessions providing sustainability of Fraud Awareness education extending beyond the timeframe of this grant.
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Sunrise County Economic Council | Track 1: Community Education | $50,000​
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SCEC's “Real or Scam? Maine Digital Safety Challenge” will provide engaging, practical, bilingual internet safety education for Maine residents, with a dedicated small-business component. Participants will encounter 50 realistic examples of suspicious emails, text messages, websites, social media posts, job offers, phone calls, investment opportunities, AI-generated content, and other scams and decide whether each is “Real” or “Scam.” Immediate feedback will explain the warning signs, turning each response into a practical learning opportunity.
Program Goals
The Maine Digital Resilience Program will fund projects that:
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Increase public awareness of internet safety risks.
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Improve digital literacy and cybersecurity skills.
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Reduce incidents of online fraud, scams, and identity theft.
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Protect vulnerable populations from online exploitation.
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Build local and regional capacity for ongoing internet safety education.
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Develop sustainable partnerships among schools, libraries, community organizations, healthcare providers, public agencies, and other trusted community institutions.
These goals support statewide digital opportunity priorities related to internet safety, education, privacy, and the ability of Maine residents to safely and confidently use digital technologies.
Priority Populations
Applicants should prioritize one or more of the following populations:
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Older adults
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Youth and students
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Parents and caregivers
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Veterans
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Rural residents
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Individuals with disabilities
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Low-income households
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Tribal communities
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New Mainers
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Small businesses and entrepreneurs
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Incarcerated individuals or returning citizens
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Applicants should clearly explain why their selected population(s) experience a need for the proposed intervention and how the organization has a demonstrated record of effectively serving the population(s).
Funding Opportunity
MCA anticipates awarding a minimum of five grants of up to $50,000 each, for a total program investment of approximately $250,000. Applicants must select one of the following funding tracks:
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Track 1: Community Education
Focuses on direct outreach, training, education, and public awareness activities that help Maine residents develop practical internet safety knowledge and skills.
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Track 2: Capacity Building
Focuses on developing sustainable organizational or regional infrastructure, partnerships, resources, and networks that increase Maine's long-term capacity to provide internet safety education.
