City Issues Public Health Alert on Pain Pills Possibly Laced with Fentanyl

The Portland Police Department is investigating a fatal overdose that may be connected to counterfeit prescription pain pills that have been found to contain fentanyl. On February 28, 2021, officers responded to a call at Maine Medical Center where medica...

Portland Police Department Makes Three New Hires

The Portland Police Department is pleased to announce that it has recently made three new hires for the following positions:  Alternative Response Liaison, Substance Use Disorder Liaison, and Media and Community Relations Liaison. The Alternative...

City of Portland Seeks Resettlement Coordinator to Assist Families at Family Shelter

The City of Portland’s Health & Human Services Department is seeking a Resettlement Coordinator to assist families who are experiencing homelessness at the City’s Family Shelter, many of whom have recently arrived in Maine and are seeking asylum. This...

City Updates Public Regarding COVID-19 Efforts

The City of Portland is updating the public today on its efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, manage outbreaks, and provide vaccination opportunities. The City’s public health campaign, StaytheCourse.me, continues to offer educational information and m...

City of Portland Committed to Providing Essential Public Health Services

The City of Portland’s commitment to providing essential public health services through its Needle Exchange Program remains strong as evidenced by the number of clients it serves and the services it offers seven days a week, in two locations with more tha...

Public Health Staff Remind Residents About Indoor Gatherings Guidance and COVID-19 Prevention

Portland’s Public Health Division wishes all a Happy Thanksgiving and would like to provide you with some tips for celebrating safely. With this holiday season upon us, please remember:

• Limit the number of guests you’re gathering with. It is best to includ...

Portland Public Health Recognizes 45th Annual Great American Smokeout

November 19, 2020 is the 45th annual Great American Smokeout. Since 1976, the American Cancer Society has hosted the Great American Smokeout, a public awareness event to encourage people to quit smoking, even if it is just for one day on the day of the Gr...

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Saturday, October 24, 2020 between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM is the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Law enforcement agencies throughout the state will be collecting unused or unneeded prescription medications so that they can be properly disposed.

The...

City Again Offering Grants and Loans to Small Businesses Affected by COVID-19

Round three of the City of Portland’s COVID-19 grant and loan programs are being launched today. Eligibility has been relaxed for businesses that received more than $10,000 in COVID-19 Federal or State Funding and need more assistance. Previously this mad...

Trick-Or-Treating Guidance for Halloween 2020 In Light of COVID-19

While the City of Portland does not control or sanction Halloween activities or Trick-or-Treating, it does want to make sure that residents are aware of this year’s safety guidelines should families choose to participate in Halloween 2020. The City is enc...

City Launches Campaign to Remind People to ‘Stay the Course’ to Prevent COVID-19 Spread

The City of Portland launched a new campaign this week to remind people to ‘Stay the Course’ to prevent further COVID-19 spread. Residents, businesses, and visitors to Portland are encouraged to visit staythecourse.me for information r...

Portland’s Public Health Division Teams Up to Provide Flu Vaccine Clinics This Fall

The City of Portland’s Public Health Division, in collaboration with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, Greater Portland Health, and MaineHealth Care at Home, announces the availability o...

International Overdose Awareness Day Vigil 2020

Portland Public Health Division’s Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction Services Program recognizes International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31). International Overdose Awareness Day has been a key remembrance event for those who have ...

Portland Public Health Division & Spurwink to Offer FREE virtual Narcan Training!

In recognition of Recovery Month, the City of Portland and Spurwink are partnering to offer a FREE Naloxone (Narcan) Virtual Training on Wednesday, September 2 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm.

Register: spurwink.org/celebrate-recovery 

FMI contact Zoe Broko...

Portland Police Report Spike in Drug Overdoses

There have been seven fatal and 79 non-fatal overdoses since May 1, 2020, with one fatal and nine non-fatal overdoses just in the past week alone. 

“There have historically been upticks in overdoses here in the city at this time of the y...

City Hires Bob Fowler as New Public Health Director

The City of Portland is pleased to announce it has hired Bob Fowler as the city’s new Public Health Director after an extensive search and interview process. For the last six years, Fowler served as the Executive Director at Milestone Recovery. ...

City Makes $500,000 Available for Rent Assistance for Portlanders Affected by COVID-19

In response to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the City of Portland will make available up to three months of rent, and up to $250 in utility assistance to alleviate the housing burden for low income households that have lo...

City Alerts Businesses that COVID-19 Reopening Guidelines Must Be Followed

The City of Portland is reminding businesses that they must follow the State’s COVID-19 reopening guidelines for operation. Following multiple reports of violations from the public, the City will have two code enforcement officers plus the polic...

City Updates Public on Phased Reopening Plan

The City of Portland is updating the public on its phased reopening plan so citizens can plan how to take care of various municipal transactions. City employees will be returning to City Hall and City buildings on Monday, June 1. However, the majority of ...

City Offers Help to Small Businesses During Pandemic - Launches Three Grant & Loan Programs

The City of Portland launched three emergency business assistance programs after receiving City Council approval of the programs at its May 4, 2020 meeting and final funding for them at its May 18, 2020 meeting.

The programs include the Business Assistance...

Mayor Snyder & City Manager Issue Letter to Citizens and Businesses Regarding Reopening Plans

Portland Mayor Kate Snyder and City Manager Jon Jennings issued a letter to citizens and businesses today recapping the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and outlining its reopening plans. You can read it at the link below. 

Read on...

City Proposes Plan to Assist Restaurant & Retail Businesses with Reopening

In conjunction with Governor Mills’ Restarting Maine’s Economy plan, which outlines the gradual stages of reopening, the City of Portland has put together a proposed plan that includes temporary street closures and permitting changes t...

Public Health Division to Provide Virtual Trainings in May

With National Drug Take Back Day Postponed, the City of Portland Public Health Division is providing educational materials and virtual Narcan (naloxone) trainings throughout the month of May.

Beginning next week, the Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduc...

Portland Updates Stay at Home Guidance Based on Governor Mills' April 28 Announcement

In light of Governor Janet Mills’ April 28 announcement regarding her stay-at-home extension and safe and gradual plan to restart Maine’s economy, City officials want people and businesses in Portland to know that they should plan to f...

City Council Extends Stay at Home Emergency Order Until May 18

The Portland City Council voted to extend the Stay at Home Emergency Order until May 18, 2020 at its April 27th meeting. The emergency order also includes a number of amendments including:

• A temporary program to pay $1,000 to the owner of a non-ow...

City Clarifies Non-Essential Business Rules Related to Stay at Home Order & Calls Emergency Council

The City of Portland is seeking to clarify its rules for non-essential businesses related to the City’s emergency Stay at Home order, and as a result the Portland City Council will hold an emergency remote workshop on Monday, April 20 at 5:30 PM...

City’s Volunteer Shopping Program for Elders Set to Begin April 20

The City of Portland’s Office of Elder Affairs has created a temporary volunteer program to provide grocery shopping and food delivery to elderly Portland residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is intended to help people aged 65 or ...

City Closes All Back Cove Trail Parking Lots During Stay At Home Emergency Order

The City of Portland is closing all parking lots associated with the Back Cove Trail due to the high usage of the trail and overcrowding concerns in light of the State of Maine and the City’s Stay at Home emergency orders requiring that individu...

Mayor Snyder Adds Tenant & Landlord Resources to City’s COVID-19 Webpage

Building off of the City Council’s March 30th approval of an Emergency Order, Mayor Kate Snyder has compiled a comprehensive list of resources available to tenants and landlords in light of COVID-19. The Emergency Order requests landlords in Por...

City of Portland Opens Additional Shelter for Clients Needing Quarantine Space

The City of Portland has opened an additional shelter for clients needing quarantine space in light of positive COVID-19 cases. The quarantine space is located at the James A. Banks, Sr. Exposition Building. The City is working with the Maine Department o...

City Council Votes to Extend Stay at Home Emergency Order Until April 27

The Portland City Council voted tonight to extend the State of Emergency and Stay at Home order until April 27. The vote extends the Emergency Order originally issued by the City Manager on March 24 and replaces it with this Emergency Order. 

The ...

India Street Clinic to Resume Clinical Services & Needle Exchange Program

The India Street Public Health Center will resume its clinical services and Needle Exchange Program on Monday, March 30. This comes after a two week closure due to widespread staff exposure to COVID-19. The City had no other choice but to cease operations...

Portland Issues COVID-19 Related Updates for City Services

The City of Portland is issuing the following updates related to the COVID-19 response and resources.

City Hall & City Buildings Closed to External Visitors Until April 13

City Hall and all City buildings will now remain closed to external visitors unti...

City Announces Stay at Home Emergency Order Effective Wednesday, March 25 at 5:00 PM

City Announces Stay at Home Emergency Order Effective Wednesday, March 25 at 5:00 PM

Restricts all non-essential personal and business services

Mayor Kate Snyder and Portland City Manager Jon Jennings announced today at a 3:00 PM press conference that the C...

Mayor Snyder Issues Guidance to Keep People Housed During COVID-19 Pandemic

Portland Mayor Kate Snyder issued the following guidance to help keep people housed during the COVID-19 pandemic given the need for safe housing during this public health and economic crisis. The courts are currently closed at this time and no evictions a...

City Committed to Caring for Homeless Populations During COVID-19 Pandemic

The City of Portland has been working on the front lines in direct contact with its most vulnerable community members for more than 30 years with one of the most dedicated and professional staffs. Each and every decision the City makes is with their best ...

City Announces Temporary Changes to Parking Enforcement In Light of Ongoing Pandemic

Last Friday, March 13, Portland’s City Manager directed the Parking Division to no longer issue parking tickets for time zones and expired meters for the foreseeable future. Enforcement will continue for illegal parking, which includes blocking ...

Governor Mills’ New Executive Order Expands & Extends Portland’s Emergency Proclamation

In light of the action Governor Janet Mills took today in response to the evolving COVID-19 global pandemic, the Portland City Council’s emergency remote meeting scheduled for March 19 to consider extending the 5-day emergency proclamation that ...

City Announces Curfew for Establishments & Other COVID-19 Recommendations

Portland City Manager Jon Jennings announced today he is instituting a mandated curfew for establishments where groups gather from 6:00 AM to 2:00 AM on Tuesday, March 17-18 and then daily from 8:00 PM until 2:00 AM on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sat...

City Officials Provide Update on Coronavirus COVID-19 Response

As things continue to rapidly evolve with the coronavirus (COVID-19), Mayor Snyder, City Council members, and City Manager Jon Jennings held a press conference on Friday to provide the public and media with the latest information related to the number of ...

City Cancels Events at Merrill Auditorium, Portland Expo & Ocean Gateway

The City of Portland has decided to cancel all events scheduled for the next 30 days at Merrill Auditorium, Portland Expo and Ocean Gateway in order to help practice social distancing in order to reduce the number of large gatherings and help slow the spr...

City Cancels March 16 Council Meeting & Suspends All Public Meetings

Out of an abundance of caution and for preventative reasons only, the Portland City Council is cancelling its March 16 meeting and March 23 workshop. Both will be rescheduled at dates to be determined.  

Additionally, the City is suspending all co...

City of Portland Following CDC Guidelines Regarding Coronavirus Precautions

The City of Portland is actively engaged and monitoring guidance from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Maine CDC regarding Coronavirus COVID-19 preparations and precautions. The City’s emergency management team is...

City Public Health Officials Warn of Vaping Dangers

As reports of vaping-related illnesses increase, Maine has enacted a law banning vaping on school grounds. On September 19, LD 152 took effect. The statute, “An Act to Prohibit the Possession and Use of Electronic Smoking Devices on School Grou...