Four towns in Franklin County have joined forces to tackle climate change. They received a boost with $350,000 in grants from the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Planning 2.0 (MVP 2.0) program. This initiative, managed by Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, encourages towns to review past plans and set goals to enhance their resilience against climate impacts.
In 2023, MVP 2.0 was launched, inviting municipalities to develop new projects aimed at strengthening community safety and sustainability. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey recently highlighted this effort by announcing over $3 million awarded to 33 communities for climate resilience projects.
In Franklin County, Ashfield and Conway received $175,000 each, as did Charlemont and Colrain. Colrain’s Town Administrator, Diana Parsons, expressed enthusiasm about working with Charlemont on shared concerns like culverts and small bridges. While the exact projects haven’t been selected yet, the funding is available until June 2027, giving them time to decide.
Parsons noted that being part of the MVP 2.0 program also makes towns more competitive for future grants. “They’re giving us a leg up on future action grants,” she explained, underscoring the importance of this initial funding as a stepping stone.
Conway’s Town Administrator, Veronique Blanchard, echoed this sentiment. She highlighted that engaging the community is crucial in these planning endeavors. “It’s more about getting the whole community involved,” she said. This collaborative approach is set to involve experts in climate resilience and ensure equity partners are part of the process.
Reflecting on past efforts, in 2018, Conway and Ashfield collaborated on an MVP Resiliency Plan. They held workshops to assess climate hazards pertinent to their communities, such as heavy rains and flooding. Notably, after experiencing severe flooding in 2023, the need for effective strategies became even more urgent.
The previous plan identified crucial flood mitigation needs, particularly in the South River corridor. Conway pursued these risks through a partnership with GZA GeoEnvironmental, which led to a report in 2024 outlining key projects. The top priorities included enlarging the Main Street bridge over the South River and lowering the floodplain near Burkeville Covered Bridge. You can find the full report here.
The commitment of these towns to enhance their resilience against climate change is not only timely but critical. As climate patterns become increasingly erratic, the collaboration among communities fosters a deeper understanding and more effective planning for the challenges ahead. The efforts in Franklin County could serve as a model for other regions facing similar threats, showcasing how proactive measures can lead to stronger, more prepared communities.
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