The technical and financial assistance program for municipalities, regional councils and multimunicipal regions, referred to in this subchapter as "the program," is established to encourage and facilitate the adoption and implementation of local, regional and statewide growth management programs. Under the provisions of the program, a municipality or multimunicipal region may request financial or technical assistance from the office for the purpose of planning and implementing a growth management program. A municipality or multimunicipal region that requests and receives a financial assistance grant shall develop and implement its growth management program in cooperation with the office and in a manner consistent with the procedures, goals and guidelines established in this subchapter and in Title 30‑A, chapter 187, subchapter 2.   [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]

To accomplish the purposes of this subchapter, the office shall develop and administer the program. The program must include direct financial assistance for planning and implementation of growth management programs, standards governing the review of growth management programs by the office, technical assistance to municipalities or multimunicipal regions and a voluntary certification program for growth management programs.   [PL 2025, c. 388, Pt. D, §12 (NEW).]