波士頓市歡迎大專院校學生返校上課 有問題請打311電話

CITY OF BOSTON WELCOMES COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO BOSTON

City provides update on student move-in preparations

BOSTON - Wednesday, August 31, 2022 - Today, City officials from several departments and agencies provided an update on the city's preparations as college and university students move into Boston and helped ensure they have a smooth transition into their new homes and communities. “The City of Boston is home to colleges and universities that attract students and families from all over the world,” said Chief of Operations Dion Irish. “We are excited to welcome students, families and visitors through the weekend. I’m grateful to the many city workers who have started preparations and will be working to ensure that all of our incoming students have safe housing, access to city services and understand how to be good neighbors.” The Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services liaisons will be out in the neighborhoods on Wednesday, August 31 and Thursday, September 1 to address constituent questions and to distribute informational materials. They will also be doing walkthroughs and flagging any potential issues they come across as a result of student move-in to the appropriate City departments. Residents can connect with their neighborhood's liaisons at boston.gov/ons. New and current residents are encouraged to connect with Boston 311 to report non-emergency issues and get information. There are three ways to do so:  Call 617-635-4500,  visit boston.gov/311,  or download the BOS:311 app.  The app is available in the google play and iOS store and currently has a student move-in specific section to streamline reporting. With the help of the community and local universities, Boston has seen a significant decrease in poorly maintained student housing.  As we continue to build this great community collaboration, the City asks students to embrace their respective communities and be a good neighbor by doing the following: Properly dispose of trash Keep noise to a minimum (your neighbors may have; young children, work….) Do not block exits with bikes, bins etc. Do not take batteries out of smoke alarms The City’s Inspectional Services, Transportation, Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services, Fire, Police and Public Works departments are conducting housing inspections (upon request), trash inspections, and distributing informational brochures in neighborhoods with large student populations. Inspectors will conduct walkthroughs of areas heavily populated with students including but not limited to; Allston, Brighton, Back Bay, Fenway, Mission Hill and Beacon Hill. While canvassing these areas inspectors will distribute informational flyers, offer on the spot inspections and answer questions related to city services.    City officials would like to remind students to avoid used furniture, and to notify their landlord immediately in the event of a suspected infestation. In addition, information pertaining to rodent control can be found on our website, questions regarding the housing code can be found here.  The Boston Transportation Department will be implementing on-street parking restrictions on streets in Allston, Brighton, Fenway, Mission Hill, South Boston, Back Bay and the North End to help provide parking spaces for vehicles being used by new residents and students moving into those areas. In addition, on-street parking restrictions signage will be posted in affected neighborhoods. The City encourages residents, students and families to please pay attention to posted signs. For more information on street restrictions, visit boston.gov/moving.  Students and new residents, especially those living along the Orange Line, are reminded of the MBTA’s Orange Line shutdown in effect until September 19. More information on alternative methods of travel in Boston can be found at boston.gov/orangeline. Bluebikes is our public bike share system. With more than 400 stations and 4000 bikes, it's a fast and convenient way to get around the Greater Boston area. Many of Boston's colleges and universities provide discounts on annual passes for students, faculty and staff. Check with your university's transportation office to see if you are eligible. To help people get around during the MBTA Orange Line shutdown, the City of Boston is offering free 30-day passes through September 18.  The passes are available to anyone, and provide an unlimited number of 45-minute trips at no cost. Find out more at boston.gov/bluebikes. For more information on biking safely in Boston, visit boston.gov/boston-by-bike. The Public Works Code Enforcement Division will be issuing citations for the improper storage of household trash. Residents are asked to place their trash and recycling on the curb by 6:00 a.m. on their scheduled collection day or set it out the night before after 5:00 p.m. Trash trucks will be circulating through key student move-in neighborhoods to collect discarded items that have been illegally placed on the curb. New residents are strongly encouraged to download the City’s free Trash Day app at: boston.gov/trash-day. Residents can view their collection schedules, set reminders, and search a directory of hundreds of household items to find out the right way to dispose of them. Mattresses and household furniture can be left curbside on your scheduled pick-up day. Items such as televisions, air conditioners and refrigerators require a special pick-up. To schedule an appointment, contact 311.  Students are encouraged to visit boston.gov/moving for more information regarding parking restrictions and permits, trash removal and restrictions, and rental requirements.

波士頓海外青年文化大使培訓 孫儉元闡述台美關係今昔

波士頓FASCA學員與駐波士頓辦事處處長孫儉元 (中)、波士頓文教中心主任潘昭榮 (左一)留影。(周菊子攝)

 

波士頓經文處處長孫儉元 (左)與波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮為海外青年大使協會培訓致詞。
(周菊子攝)

              (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州牛頓市報導) 僑委會在波士頓地區設立的「海外青年文化大使協會 (FASCA)」，8月27日在麻州牛頓市海德社區中心秋訓。16名學員從了解台美關係，FASCA活動，到學習自衛，中秋民俗，以及划龍舟，在短短一日間，收穫非常豐富。

波士頓海外青年大使協會培訓由彭奕嘉、陳美樺、許凱菲策畫。(由左至右)。(周菊子攝)

              「海外青年文化大使協會 (FASCA)」是僑務委員會有鑑於海外僑社第一代移民逐漸老邁、凋零，第二、三代多已融入主流社會，僑社傳承有青黃不接危機，為培訓海外志工，培養青年成為未來的僑社領袖，加強與僑社鏈結而籌辦的組織，特地以初、高中生為對象，以服務、文化、領導、傳承為核心價值與精神，辦理青少年培訓項目。

                從2011年首次開辦迄今，「海外青年文化大使協會 (FASCA)」已陸續在休士頓、芝加哥、洛杉磯、舊金山、華府、紐約、西雅圖、溫哥華、波士頓、橙縣、亞特蘭大等11個地區成立。

FASCA諮詢導師蕭靖穎教學員們自為防身術。 (周菊子攝)

               27日當天的培訓，由波士頓僑教中心承辦人員陳美樺與海外青年文化大使協會會長許凱菲、資深顧問彭奕嘉等人聯袂策畫，邀請了駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元，該會諮詢導師蕭靖穎、張君芳，以及波士頓台灣龍舟隊隊長李鴻宇等人傳承知識、經驗。

             孫儉元處長鑑於最近一年來，中美台三方關係在國際間備受矚目，許多原本不知台灣何在的美國人，現在都知道了世界上還有個台灣，特地為這些海外青年大使們補課，重點提示台美關係現狀。

             孫儉元處長從台灣剪影，台美關係歷史，法律基礎，以及台美政治、安全、經濟等關係，台美雙方在加強合作上的努力，未來目標，一個中國政策和一個中國原則之間的區別等，做了簡明扼要的講解。

張君芳介紹文化，講解中秋節由來。 (周菊子攝)

             首先，台灣的正式名稱是中華民國 (R. O. C.) ，國慶日是10月10日，面積36,197平方公里，人口2349萬，國內生產總值 (GDP) 6685.1億美元，人均國內生產總值為32,219美元，人均基尼係數 (Per Capita GINI) 為32,788美元。

            美國和台灣在1912到1978年間，有正式外交關係，但自從尼克森總統於1972年訪問中國大陸後，美國開始正常化與中國大陸的關係，並於1979年轉為承認與中國大陸有外交關係。但1974年時，卡特總統簽署了台灣關係法 (TRA)，從此這就成為了台美關係的法律基礎。

波士頓臺灣龍舟隊隊長李鴻宇(左一)教學員划龍舟。(周菊子攝)

             近來台美關係改善，有更多美國高層政要訪台，包括美國眾議院議長裴洛西 (Nancy Pelosi) ，人民及健康部部長，環保署長，能源部副部長，副貿易代表，管國際貿易的商務部副部長等等。美國在台北、高雄設有常駐代表處，台灣在美國設有台北經濟及文化代表辦公室，在12個城市設有經文處。

             美國國會的台灣核心小組，成員包括30名參議員，220名眾議員，第117屆的美國國會通摑了38項與台灣有關法案。

波士頓海外青年大使協會學員結業領證書。(波士頓文教中心提供)

             將來，台灣希望能加入美國領頭的印太經濟繁榮框架，並和美國協商、簽署雙邊貿易協定。

                 波士頓海外青年大使協會會長許凱菲，資深大使彭奕嘉，在培訓中分享了該會會員去年都參加了哪些社會活動，以及服務項目，包括組隊參加雙十遊行等。

             曾獲武術比賽冠軍的蕭靖穎這天藉中醫穴道，輔助解說伸展身體各部位的功效，並即席示範，教導遭遇狀況時，如何自衛。

             曾任新英格蘭中文教師專業協會的張君芳做文化介紹，邊教學員們用黏土做月餅模型，邊解說中秋節的由來。

             波士頓台灣龍舟隊隊長李鴻宇這天特地把划船培訓機帶到會場，先簡述龍舟節活動由來，再匯報波士頓台灣龍舟隊屢戰屢勝的出賽佳績，然後請學員們上陣學習划龍舟，鼓勵他們將來加入龍舟隊，一起划龍船。

             加入FASCA已有4年的會長許凱菲和即將入讀威廉斯學院 (Williams)彭奕嘉都表示，參加FASCA既給了他們機會培養領導，策畫活動的能力，也學到很多原本不知道，有關台灣的種種文化習俗，社會狀況，認識了許多新朋友，很希望有更多台灣人子弟加入這一陣容。 (部分內容轉載自僑務電子報:   https://ocacnews.net/article/318817) (刪節更新版) 

Baker-Polito Administration Files $840 Million Fiscal Year 2022 Supplemental Budget

 Baker-Polito Administration Files $840 Million Fiscal Year 2022 Supplemental Budget

 

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker today is filing a final Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) supplemental budget that proposes investments in transportation, health and human services, school safety and other fiscal year closeout needs.

 

The proposal includes approximately $1.622 billion gross / $840 million net spending and is supported by an FY22 state revenue surplus of $2.3 billion – up from a preliminary surplus figure shared in early August of $1.9 billion. This surplus figure accounts for $2.941 billion in refunds that will be returned to taxpayers under Chapter 62F, the state law that requires net state tax revenues that exceed allowable revenues be returned to taxpayers. The Department of Revenue today submitted this amount in its annual report to the State Auditor for certification. The Auditor is required to certify if the threshold under 62F has been met by September 20.

 

Revenues in FY22 exceeded Fiscal Year 2021 revenue collections by approximately 20.5%. This fiscal year, $2.3 billion was deposited into the Stabilization Fund, bringing the FY22 balance to a historic $6.9 billion.

 

“With tax revenues coming in far above budgeted amounts this year, the Commonwealth is well-positioned to deliver relief to taxpayers, while still making investments in key areas, like transportation, as we close the fiscal year,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our administration is confident that with these high surplus revenues, there remains more than enough funding to support the tax relief, economic development and climate infrastructure proposals that are under consideration in the Legislature.”

 

“The supplemental budget proposal will fund many important priorities including strengthening school infrastructure, making significant investments in transportation and providing more resources for individuals dealing with substance misuse issues,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We look forward to working with the Legislature to enact this proposal to address these needs throughout the Commonwealth.”

 

The supplemental budget proposed today does not fully allocate the FY22 state surplus. Instead, it leaves $1.5 billion of the surplus available, which in combination with $2.2 billion remaining in American Rescue Plan Act Funds, is sufficient to support the tax relief measures and other critical investments in the FORWARD/economic development bill pending with the Legislature.

 

The supplemental budget proposal includes targeted investments in transportation, with $200 million proposed to support the MBTA’s work to address the Federal Transit Administration’s safety directives and $10 million to establish a training academy that will create a talent pipeline to address MBTA staffing challenges. 

 

The proposal also recommends $37.3 million to support a number of school safety initiatives announced last week by the Administration, which includes $20 million for matching grants that will enable security and communications upgrades in K-12 schools and public higher education institutes and $10 million for child care providers to support safety measures and multi-hazard emergency planning.

 

Other notable investments include:

• $108 million net for a reserve to support ongoing and future potential costs related to COVID-19, including for personal protective equipment, testing, treatment and vaccines
• $50 million to support the construction, development and capacity of new provider-operated community housing options for individuals being discharged from skilled nursing facilities and psychiatric, chronic and rehabilitation hospitals
• $39 million to modernize the Commonwealth’s information technology infrastructure, improve cybersecurity and resiliency efforts and optimize space efficiency across Executive department offices
• $30 million to support the implementation of federal funding received through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in Fiscal Year 2023, including for project design, permitting, real estate transactions, and engineering
• $30 million to support the appointment of a guardian ad litem in Department of Children and Families custody cases
• $20 million to address the needs of immigrants and refugees, including temporary housing costs
• $20 million to establish regional low threshold housing for homeless or housing unstable individuals with substance use disorder

 

Outside policy sections propose necessary corrections that will allow for the successful implementation of various new statutes that became law earlier this month, including related to new offshore wind development tax credits, the employment of Massachusetts National Guard personnel, and the 1% allocation of the retail sales price of marijuana based on social equity businesses. Another correction proposed follows other similar statutes to allow the Department of Revenue to intercept sports wagering winnings for outstanding child support and tax debts.

 

The legislation also includes several other policy proposals, including those that would:

• Establish a trust fund in tandem with the $50 million appropriation noted above to increase provider-operated community housing options
• Provide the Department of Veterans’ Services with the authority to access the FBI national criminal database prior to hiring employees for the Soldiers Homes located in Chelsea and Holyoke, in order to ensure that our most vulnerable residents are kept safe and secure
• Establish effective and efficient administrative processes through which the Department of Public Health will manage the licensure and oversight of Registered Sanitarians and Certified Health Officers
• Mandate the appointment of a guardian ad litem in every proceeding at the Juvenile Court in which it is alleged that a child has been subjected to child abuse or neglect to serve as an independent advocate responsible for considering only the child’s best interests
• Permit the Department of Conservation and Recreation to extend the leases at certain skating rinks while also making changes that will encourage the lessees to make capital improvements to the rinks in order to ensure the continued operation of the facilities

麻州政府再撥3200萬元氣候變遷經費給市鎮 總額達一億元

 Baker-Polito Administration Awards Over $32 Million in Climate Change Funding to Cities and Towns Bringing Total Investment to $100 Million

97% of Communities Now Participating in Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program

 

WILLIAMSBURG – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $32.8 million in grants to cities and towns through the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ (EEA) Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program, continuing its historic investment in building climate change resilience throughout the Commonwealth. The grant program, which was launched in 2017 as part of Governor Baker’s Executive Order 569, provides communities with funding and technical support to identify climate hazards, develop strategies to improve resilience, and implement priority actions to adapt to climate change. With today’s announcement, the Administration has now awarded $100 million to 97% of the Commonwealth’s cities and towns through the MVP program.

 

“Since we started the program in 2017, the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program has played a large role in helping cities and towns across the state fight climate change by investing $100 million in 341 municipalities, or 97% of the Commonwealth’s communities,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “With this latest round of MVP funding, we are making the single largest investment in the program by directing nearly $33 million towards critical climate resilience projects throughout Massachusetts.”

 

“This is the sixth round of MVP funding, and we are making a major push forward by funding more climate resilience implementation projects than ever before,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “It has been rewarding to see projects move through the phases from planning to design to construction and implementation over the last five years, and we are starting to see the tangible difference these projects are making in our communities as we prepare for a changing climate.”

 

The MVP Program pairs local leadership and knowledge with a significant investment of resources and funding from the Commonwealth to address ongoing climate change impacts, such as inland flooding, increase in storm events, sea level rise, drought, and extreme temperatures. Of the $32.8 million in grants announced, $32.6 million was awarded to 73 municipal projects that build local resilience to climate change in the Commonwealth’s sixth round of MVP Action Grant funding. Additionally, $157,700 was awarded to six towns to pursue a community-led planning process to identify vulnerabilities to climate change and priority actions. When complete, these municipalities will be eligible for the next round of implementation funding.

 

“Every year the real need for climate resilience funding becomes even more important for our municipal partners, who have remained steadfast in their commitment to the hard work of preparing their communities for climate change,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card. “It is extremely gratifying to see more dollars than ever before being put towards local projects, such as drought mitigation, stormwater and culvert upgrades, and land acquisitions, which will have numerous positive impacts on the state’s residents for many years to come.”

 

The following communities will receive funding to complete the MVP planning process:

 

Grantee	MVP Program Region	Total Award
Hancock	Berkshires & Hilltowns	$27,000
Hanover	Greater Boston	$36,700
Lee	Berkshires & Hilltowns	$27,000
Middlefield	Berkshires & Hilltowns	$27,000
Monroe	Berkshires & Hilltowns	$25,000
West Stockbridge	Berkshires & Hilltowns	$15,000
Total (6)		Total: $157,700

  

The following projects are receiving Action Grants: 

 

Grantee	Project Title	Grant Award
Andover & Lawrence	Shawsheen River Nature-Based Flood Resilience	$271,705
Ayer & Devens	Ayer-Devens Main Streets Regional Pocket Forests Pilot Project	$282,624
Belchertown	Scarborough Brook Watershed Improvements	$139,500
Berlin	Horseshoe Pond Acquisition Project	$874,268
Beverly	Bass River District Resilience Plan	$200,000
Boxford	Increasing Watershed Scale Resiliency in Boxford Through Culvert Upgrades in the Howlett Brook Watershed	$265,900
Brockton	Trout Brook Flood Resilience	$157,300
Brookline	Climate Crisis Action and Resilience Plan Update	$75,000
Cambridge	Cambridge Community Corps Climate Readiness Initiative	$150,000
Chatham, Provincetown, Harwich, Mashpee, & Falmouth	Regional Low Lying Road Assessment and Feasibility	$205,479
Chatham Brewster, Harwich, & Orleans	Pleasant Bay Climate Adaptation Action Plan	$292,710
Chelsea, Revere, & Winthrop	Envisioning Resilience in the North Suffolk Region through Community Preparedness	$87,500
Chelsea	Eastern Ave. Alternatives Analysis + Conceptual Design	$333,492
Chelsea, Somerville, Everett, Malden, Revere, & Winthrop	Equitable Coastal Resilience and Redevelopment in Lower Mystic	$556,000
Chester, Blandford, & Middlefield	Evaluating & Planning for Resilient Rural Dirt Roads	$317,550
Dedham & Neponset Watershed Communities	Neponset Watershed Regional Adaptation Strategy and Flood Model	$389,457
Dennis	Pound Pond - Flood Mitigation and Storm Drainage Improvements Dennis, Massachusetts - Phase 2 Final Design	$73,628
Dracut	Design and Permitting for Collinsville Dam Removal Project	$174,000
Easthampton	Emerald Place Resiliency	$117,800
Essex	Apple Street Roadbed Elevation and Culvert Replacement Project	$222,037
Everett & Chelsea	Island End River Flood Resilience Project	$2,998,600
Everett, Malden, Chelsea, & Arlington	Beat the Heat: Wicked Cool Outdoors / Venza el Calor: Súper Fresco Afuera	$339,915
Fairhaven	Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment	$40,000
Fall River & Westport	South Watuppa Pond Green Infrastructure Blue Water Restoration	$379,875
Fall River	Fall River CSO Treatment Study	$1,163,000
Fitchburg	Generating Resiliency in Downtown Fitchburg with Nature-Based Solutions	$109,000
Framingham	Walnut Street Neighborhood Flood Mitigation -Permits & Easements	$155,000
Great Barrington	Lake Mansfield Recreation Area Improvements Phase 1	$992,500
Hatfield	Climate-Smart Comprehensive Planning for Hatfield	$283,900
Hudson, Framingham, & Natick	SuAsCo Natural Climate Solutions Project	$314,393
Hull	Hull Climate Adaption Roadmap; Alternatives Analysis for the Hampton Circle Area	$198,624
Lincoln	Town of Lincoln Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (L-CAP) Proposal	$100,000
Longmeadow	Toward the New Normal: Envisioning an Inclusive & Resilient Longmeadow	$235,555
Lowell	Resilient Urban Forest Master Plan and Urban Heat Island Assessment	$93,000
Malden	Malden River Works for Waterfront Equity and Resilience	$200,550
Mashpee	Increasing Resilience to Harmful Algal Blooms in Santuit Pond Stormwater Retrofit Implementation - Phase 1	$469,037
Mattapoisett, Fairhaven, Marion, Rochester, & Acushnet	Mattapoisett River Valley Water Supply Resilience Project	$4,500,000
Medford	Interconnected Resiliency Network & Resilient Communications	$416,738
Medford	Andrews School Resilient Emergency Shelter	$670,568
Middleborough	Picone Farm Preservation for Climate Resiliency, Flood Storage, Water Quality & Food Security	$1,364,325
Monson	Chicopee Brook Flood Resilience Improvements	$295,000
Montague	Incorporating Climate Resiliency into the Montague Comprehensive Plan	$80,000
Monterey	Enhancing Flood Resiliency Through the Evaluation and Redesign of Critical Infrastructure Along the Konkapot River - Phase II Final Design & Permitting	$124,071
Natick & Charles River Watershed Communities	Building Resilience Across the Charles River Watershed Phase III	$333,070
New Bedford	Kempton Street Corridor Green Infrastructure	$161,800
Northampton	Climate Resilient Downtown Affordable Housing	$921,300
Oak Bluffs	Vulnerability Assessment and Permit Level Design of Coastal Resilience Improvements for Dukes County Ave Pump Station	$69,529
Plympton	Preserving Turkey Swamp: A Keystone Goal	$502,500
Reading & Mystic River Watershed Communities	Maillet, Sommes, Morgan Constructed Stormwater Wetland	$2,116,578
Revere	Diamond Creek Catchment Improvements Investigation and Assessment	$235,509
Revere, Saugus, Malden, Everett, & Lynn	Regional Saugus River Watershed Vulnerability and Adaptation Study	$150,872
Richmond & West Stockbridge	Resilient Stormwater Action and Implementation Plan	$265,408
Rowe, Heath, Shelburne, & Conway	Community Driven Forest Climate Adaptation: Implementing the Forest Climate Resilience Program in the Mohawk Trail Woodland Partnership	$164,450
Salem	Collins Cove to Willows Resilience Study	$234,565
Seekonk	Attleboro Dye Works Dam Removal: Design & Permitting	$191,000
Sherborn	Sherborn's Climate Activation and Resilience Plan- A Model for Climate Mobilization for the MetroWest Region	$38,145
Shrewsbury	Regulatory Update for Sustainable Parking Requirements	$90,000
Shrewsbury	Climate Action and Resilience Plan	$100,000
South Hadley	Queensville Dam and Buttery Brook Restoration	$162,000
Stoneham	Stoneham High School Wetland Restoration	$108,700
Stoughton	Stoughton Town-wide Drainage Model, Vulnerability Assessment, and Adaptation Strategies to Mitigate Future Flooding	$218,175
Stow	Stow Acres North Acquisition and Climate Resilience Master Plan	$1,135,000
Sutton	Manchaug Village Water Resource Resiliency Action Plan	$75,000
Templeton	Old Royalston Road Culvert Replacement	$503,225
Uxbridge	Home Brew Dam and Whitin Pond Dam Removal	$185,450
Waltham	Designing a Resilient Chester Brook Corridor	$143,900
Ware	Muddy Brook Subwatershed Resiliency Master Plan	$42,740
Whately	Whately Energy Resilience and Education	$304,778
Williamsburg	Williamsburg Public Safety Complex	$1,831,137
Woburn & Mystic River Watershed Communities	Hurld Park - Heat Resilient Park	$271,425
Worcester	Drainage and Green Infrastructure Master Plan	$1,253,091
Wrentham & Norfolk	Eagle Dam Removal Phase II	$41,337
Yarmouth	Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan	$80,089
Total: 73		Total: $32,640,374

 

“The MVP grant program is among the most relevant and the most effective in the Commonwealth,” said State Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “I'm absolutely delighted to see substantial funds flowing to western Massachusetts thanks to the stellar work of EEA officials and municipal leaders alike. I look forward to offering sustained support for this critical initiative.”

 

“We are witnessing the elevated impact of climate change in our small towns, including storms that wipe out culverts, bridges, and roads,” said State Senator Adam Hinds (D-Pittsfield). “I am proud of the relationship between the legislature and the administration to act forcefully in support of our municipalities that often struggle to keep up with demand.”

 

“Communities often struggle with figuring out how to stretch dollars to fund critical projects. The infusion of funds to Northampton, Williamsburg, and Hatfield in my district will go a long way to support projects that will help ensure these communities are climate ready,” said State Representative Lindsay Sabadosa (D-Northampton). “I am extremely grateful that the Commonwealth has acknowledged the importance of offering tangible support to these cities and towns today.”

 

As the MVP program reaches its five-year anniversary, EEA is formulating a process, trainings, and resources, called “MVP Planning 2.0,” for updating MVP plans and the priority actions identified within them. EEA is seeking to develop an updated process that is inclusive, engaging, equitable, collaborative, and actionable. The update process will take into account newly available climate change tools and projections, the ongoing Massachusetts Climate Assessment, data from the first iteration of MVP planning grants, and feedback from the many MVP stakeholders who have made the program a success to date. The revamped process and resources are expected to launch in Spring 2023.

 

Furthermore, MVP supports the implementation of the State Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan (SHMCAP), released in September 2018, which provided a national model of integrating hazard mitigation priorities with forward-looking climate change data and solutions. The plan is implemented within state government by the Resilient MA Action Team (RMAT), an inter-agency team led by EEA and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, and staffed by designated Climate Change Coordinators from each Executive Office. The Resilient MA Action Team provides guidance and decision-making for plan implementation, further refines priority actions, and ensures actions are integrated into agency practice and policy. Recently, the RMAT launched the Climate Resilience Design Standards Tool to integrate best available statewide climate change projections to inform climate resilient planning and design of infrastructure, buildings, and natural resource assets. This tool was used in the 2022 MVP Action Grant and Community One Stop for Growth application processes.

 

Currently, RMAT and EEA are developing the MA Climate Change Assessment, a statewide analysis detailing how Massachusetts people, environments, and infrastructure may be affected by climate change and related hazards through the end of the century. This assessment will directly inform the first five-year update to the SHMCAP, which will be released in Fall 2023.