The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs is seeking proposals for Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Planning Grants, which provide support for Massachusetts cities and towns to complete climate vulnerability assessments and develop action-oriented climate resiliency plans.

The program helps communities define extreme weather and natural and 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.

The link to the COMMBUYS website hosting the RFR and required forms can be accessed through the new MVP program website. Planning Grant applications are due by 4 p.m. on June 4 (via email, see RFR for details) for MVP planning processes that must be complete by June 30, 2022.

Questions can be sent to Program Manager Kara Runsten at kara.runsten@mass.gov.

Action grants
Energy and Environmental Affairs is also seeking proposals for MVP Action Grants, which provide funding to designated MVP communities to implement priority climate adaptation actions identified through the MVP planning process or similar climate change vulnerability assessment and action planning that has led to MVP designation after EEA review.

Projects are required to use climate data and projections. Projects that propose nature-based solutions or strategies that rely on green infrastructure or conservation and enhancement of natural systems and that have robust community engagement plans are preferred.

Applicants can request up to $2 million in funding (regional proposals may request up to $5 million), and a 25% match of the total project cost is required.

Energy and Environmental Affairs recommends reading the Action Grant RFR in full, as there have been several updates from the last round; significant changes are outlined on page 1.

The link to the COMMBUYS website hosting the RFR and required forms can be accessed through the new MVP program website. Action Grant proposals are due by 2 p.m. on May 7 (via online form, see RFR for details) for project proposals that must be completed by June 30, 2022, or June 30, 2023.

Questions can be sent to Program Manager Kara Runsten at kara.runsten@mass.gov.

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