Massachusetts has awarded $28.7 million to increase resilience in communities, preparing them to better handle flooding, heat waves, wildfires and other forms of extreme weather.
The Massachusetts Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant Program prioritized underserved, rural and small-town communities this year for awards. Extreme weather has caused damage, impacting property, critical infrastructure and public well-being, according to state officials. Worsening climate conditions indicate that the state should expect similar weather to increase in frequency, resulting in severe tornadoes, high winds, hail, heavy rainfall, tropical cyclones, wildfires and flooding.
Over the past five years alone, Massachusetts has seen 14 billion-dollar disasters hit its shores, impacting its most vulnerable communities most. The MVP program will help these communities implement practical improvements to increase resilience. Some of these projects will include:
- Rebuilding parks with shaded areas.
- Protecting flood-mitigating wetlands.
- Building affordable housing on higher ground.
- Implementing new wildfire evacuation routes.
- Upgrading culverts.
- Designing emergency plans to protect residents.
The program was incorporated into the Massachusetts’ governor’s Mass Ready Act – a bold plan to invest $1.3 billion into critical infrastructure projects. As a part of the statewide climate adaptation plan, Massachusetts launched additional planning assistance this year to pair communities with equity partners, helping ensure towns would use their awards to best benefit the needs of all residents.
All grants will supplement local funding to complete projects. A selection of the initiatives chosen for the MVP program include:
- Belchertown will replace a culvert along Hop Brook.
- The town of Dennis will restore essential flood mitigation and storm drainage infrastructure.
- The Woburn and Mystic River communities will build a heat-resilient nature park.
- Somerville will study and implement urban heat resilience measures.
- Pittsfield and the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission will increase connectivity within the town’s Westside area.
Photo by Anamul Rezwan from Pexels
