The second year of the administration’s Community Compact Cabinet program adds a grant with up to $2 million for cities, towns and school districts that are exploring regionalization efforts.
 
The grant is open to all municipalities and school districts – including regional districts – that are considering forming a regional school district or regionalizing services. Regional planning agencies and councils of government may also apply for funding.
 
There will be two competitive application rounds for the regionalization grant program. The first round of applications opens on Oct. 15, with a due date of Nov. 15. The second round opens on Jan. 1 with a due date of Feb. 1. Applicants not awarded a grant in the first round can re-apply in the second round.
 
The new Efficiency and Regionalization program joins the Best Practice program and the IT Grant program as the Community Compact’s new year begins on Sept. 15.
 
Communities that did not apply in fiscal 2016 for the Best Practice program can submit an application beginning on Sept. 15. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with cities and towns choosing three best practices from a revamped and enhanced set now available on the Community Cabinet website at www.mass.gov/ccc.
 
Applications for the IT Grant program will open on March 1. Grants of up to $200,000 will support the implementation of innovative IT projects by funding one-time capital needs and related costs.
 
Communities that applied for a Community Compact through the Best Practice program on or before Feb. 15 will be eligible to apply for an IT grant. Communities awarded a grant through this program in fiscal 2016 will not be eligible in fiscal 2017.
 
Bonus application points for the IT Grant program and Efficiency and Regionalization program are awarded for cities and towns that have chosen to participate in the Best Practice program, and for applications whose subject matter falls within any of the fiscal 2017 best practices.
 
Applications for all Community Cabinet programs can be submitted through the program’s website. Passwords to access the application pages were included in a letter from Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito to municipal executives mailed last month.
 

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