Insight sought for MVP Planning Program Review

As part of its efforts to update the process for Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) planning grants in 2023, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs is convening an MVP Review Panel.

The panel will help guide the MVP Planning 2.0 initiative, which seeks to build on the work communities have done to date and support communities with new resources and tools for climate resilience planning.

The review panel will gather ideas, identify challenges, and offer feedback on the MVP planning process. Municipal staff, volunteers, regional and community-based organizations, MVP service providers, and community members who have taken part in community resilience building workshops for MVP planning grants are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 25.

The MVP program helps communities define climate-related hazards; understand how their community may be impacted by climate change; identify existing and future vulnerabilities and strengths; and develop, prioritize and implement key actions. State-trained MVP providers offer technical assistance to communities in completing the assessment and resiliency plans.

Communities that complete the MVP planning grant program become certified as an MVP community and are eligible for MVP action grant funding. So far, 335 municipalities across the Commonwealth have participated in the MVP planning program since it launched in 2017.

For more information on MVP Planning 2.0, see the MVP Program’s Winter 2022 newsletter. Questions can be sent to MVP Regional Coordinator at carrieanne.petrik@mass.gov.