Press Release: 9/15/2025
Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Nearly $30 Million to Help Communities Prepare for Flooding, Heat Waves and Wildfires
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
9/15/2025
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Aisha Revolus, Communications Manager
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Email Aisha Revolus, Communications Manager at aisha.revolus@mass.gov
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $28.7 million in grants to help 54 Massachusetts communities prepare for increasingly extreme weather – including heat waves, flooding, wildfires and storms. This year, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) made a targeted effort to recruit rural and small towns into the Massachusetts Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant program, with $11.1 million going specifically to those areas.
The funding supports real, on-the-ground improvements – such as rebuilding parks with shaded spaces where residents can cool off during heat waves, protecting wetlands that reduce flooding in neighborhoods, and designing safer, more affordable housing on higher ground. Other projects include new wildfire evacuation routes, culvert upgrades to stop roads from washing out, and emergency plans to protect people most at risk.
“Communities across Massachusetts are already feeling the impacts of rising heat, flooding and other extreme weather. These grants give them the ability to prepare before disaster strikes – protecting homes, public spaces and essential services,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Preparation is the most affordable, effective way to protect people and avoid much higher costs down the road.”
“As a former mayor, I know how hard it can be for local governments to take on complex challenges while still keeping up with day-to-day services,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “MVP gives communities the resources to tackle problems like upgrading Gallow Hills Park and Bertram Field in Salem with green infrastructure solutions to mitigate flooding without having to choose between urgent needs and long-term safety.
The MVP Program is a statewide initiative that helps cities and towns plan and implement locally-driven strategies to deal with the immediate and long-term impacts of climate change. The program goes beyond funding plans – it helps communities turn those plans into action. Since its inception in 2017, MVP has funded over 500 projects ranging from stormwater system upgrades and cooling shelters to updated zoning and emergency response planning.
This year’s initiative also emphasizes equity and inclusion. A new effort launched this year as part of MVP 2.0 pairs communities with equity partners – local organizations and individuals that specialize in community engagement. These partners help towns ensure that planning reflects the needs of all residents, especially those most at risk.
The MVP program is also a core piece of Governor Healey’s recently proposed Mass Ready Act, which includes $315 million to further invest in local economies.
“We’re seeing more communities step up to address the real impacts they’re facing – hotter summers, stronger storms and more frequent flooding,” said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “These grants support that work by funding practical, local solutions. This year, we’re proud to welcome 17 first-time MVP Action grantees – towns and cities that are taking action to protect residents and build a more resilient community. The demand for MVP also underscores the importance of the Mass Ready Act, which will allow us to continue to support communities as they contend with increasingly destructive storms and heat.”
MVP is a priority program of ResilientMass, the statewide climate adaptation plan to reduce risk and strengthen communities in the face of climate change impacts.
To streamline the application process for resilience projects, the next round of MVP Action Grants will be part of the new Environment and Climate One Stop. This unified application platform will allow applicants to access multiple EEA grant programs that fund climate resilience and restoration projects. This pilot initiative will be modelled after the Executive Office of Economic Development’s Community One Stop for Growth. More information is available on the initiative’s webpage. EEA is accepting expressions of interest for new projects at this time.
“Communities throughout our region continue to demonstrate strong leadership in preparing for the impacts of climate change, and these MVP Action Grants provide critical resources to support those efforts,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R–Gloucester). “Thank you to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for releasing this important funding for essential local initiatives in Ipswich, Salisbury, and West Newbury. These projects will not only enhance public safety and protect vital infrastructure but also strengthen the ability of our coastal and riverfront communities to withstand increasingly severe storms and flooding.”
“Communities across our Commonwealth are grappling with hotter summers, stronger storms, and record flooding,” said State Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “I am grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for expanding the Massachusetts Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant program to include funding targeted for rural and small towns — ensuring that every community has the tools it needs to meet the challenges of a changing climate. This $11.1 million investment into our rural and small municipalities is driving forward key climate resilient infrastructure projects that are designed and constructed to serve our communities and residents for the next 100 years.”
“Municipalities like Hull are on the front lines of climate change, and are among the first to feel the effects of sea level rise, flooding, and more intense storms,” said State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull). “MVP is a catalyst for investment in resilience, making our environments healthier and local economies stronger. We are thrilled to see this investment in the Hampton Circle neighborhood.”
“Two years ago, North Central Massachusetts faced devastating flooding that caused millions of dollars in damage,” said State Representative Michael P. Kushmerek (D – Fitchburg). “With this funding to support nature-based solutions, Fitchburg will be better equipped to manage future extreme weather events. I sincerely appreciate the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their partnership in prioritizing public safety and infrastructure investment.”
“The Massachusetts Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program has been a game changer for the Berkshires, giving our towns the tools to plan for and reduce the risks of climate change,” said State Representative Leigh Davis (D – Great Barrington). “I’m thrilled to see two Third Berkshire projects supported — community-centered climate planning at Old Maid’s Park in Great Barrington and planning for a new Regional Public Safety Facility in West Stockbridge. These investments not only help us prepare for flooding, heat, and storms, they also make our parks more accessible, our neighborhoods safer, and our communities stronger for generations to come. I’m grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for prioritizing local climate resilience and supporting what matters most in our towns.”
The following communities will receive funding to complete MVP Action Grants this year:
| Grantee | Project Title | Total Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Abington (& Rockland) | Nature-Based Stormwater Resilience: Abington & Rockland Watershed Assessment | $350,000 |
| Amherst (& Belchertown, Hadley, Shutesbury, Pelham) | Fort River Watershed Culvert Assessment & Prioritization Plan | $427,700 |
| Avon | From Rain to Resource: The Water Journey Innovative Solutions for Groundwater Recharge | $222,700 |
| Belchertown | Hop Brook Culvert Replacement | $2,764,404 |
| Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (& Clarksburg) | Four Corners Floodplain Restoration and Flood Resilience Phase II (Design/Permitting) | $445,020 |
| Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (& Pittsfield) | Pittsfield Westside Connectivity Project | $1,144,000 |
| Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (& Pittsfield, North Adams, Great Barrington, Becket) | Berkshire Climate Career Lab | $50,000 |
| Boston | Boston Nature Center Wetland and Stream Restoration | $400,000 |
| Brockton (& Avon) | D.W. Field Park Climate Resilience Project | $859,400 |
| Brookfield | Rice Corner Cross Road Culvert Replacement | $605,676 |
| Canton (& Boston, Dedham, Foxborough, Medfield, Norwood, Quincy, Stoughton, Westwood) | Resilient Neponset: Advancing Climate Resilience through Data Modeling and Engagement | $652,719 |
| Chelsea | Stronger, Smarter, Greener: Implementing Resilient Zoning & Design in Chelsea | $313,600 |
| Cohasset | Cohasset Social Resilience Coalition & Hub | $190,077 |
| Concord (& Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers Watershed Communities) | Building a Regional Climate Collaborative for the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord (SuAsCo) Rivers Watershed | $450,000 |
| Conway | Conway Flood Resilience Project | $330,300 |
| Dennis | Pound Pond -Flood Mitigation and Storm Drainage Restoration Dennis, Massachusetts | $2,647,255 |
| Fitchburg | Generating & Measuring Resilience in Downtown Fitchburg with Nature-Based Solutions 3.0 - Resilient Elm Street | $143,970 |
| Franklin Regional Council of Governments (& Franklin County Communities) | Climate Resilient Water Use in Franklin County | $125,000 |
| Great Barrington | Resilient Housatonic: Community-Centered Climate Planning at Old Maid's Park | $80,860 |
| Hardwick (& Hubbardston) | Quabbin Regional School District Town Shelter Resilience Improvement Design and Permitting | $94,000 |
| Hatfield (& Hadley) | Assessment, Maintenance, and NBS Improvements to Agricultural Drainage Channels | $179,000 |
| Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe | Herring Pond Wampanoag - Tidmarsh Farms Homestead Planning and Acquisition Project | $196,230 |
| Holyoke | Holyoke Wastewater System Vulnerability Assessment, Adaptation Plan, and Green Infrastructure | $390,000 |
| Hopkinton | Hopkinton's Community-Led Resilient Land Initiative | $179,305 |
| Hull | Resilient Park Transformation in Hampton Circle | $332,000 |
| Ipswich | Ipswich Town Wharf Pump Station Relocation and Coastal Resilience Improvement Project | $282,000 |
| Lawrence | River to Refuge: Tower Hill Waterfront- Río a Refugio: Tower Hill Frente al Río | $1,054,800 |
| Lynn (& Holyoke, Haverhill) | Building on HEAL (Healthy Environments Advance Learning) | $150,000 |
| Metropolitan Area Planning Council (& Salem) | Home Resilience Assessment Pilot | $151,155 |
| Milford | Resilience Planning for Godfrey Brook | $598,524 |
| Monson | Monson Cedar Swamp Co-Restoration Project | $213,000 |
| Montague | The Hill Neighborhood Green Infrastructure Master Planning | $458,750 |
| Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (& Merrimack Watershed Communities) | Merrimack Watershed Revive: A Vision for Regional Resilience Phase 2 | $539,900 |
| Orleans | Town of Orleans - Downtown and Town Cove Resilience Plan | $198,175 |
| Oxford | Petroleum to Pollinator | Design to Restore a Former Gas Station Back to Nature | Phase 02 | $218,500 |
| Petersham | Community Resilience through Emergency Communication Planning | $100,000 |
| Princeton (& Westminster) | Mount Wachusett Community Wildfire Protection Plan | $53,000 |
| Rowe | Adapting Pelham Lake Park to a Changing Climate | $90,820 |
| Salisbury | Salisbury Coastal Resilience Planning Project | $304,155 |
| Shelburne | Dragon Brook: A Climate Resilient Watershed | $395,940 |
| Somerville | Blessing of the Bay Urban Heat Resilience | $1,367,300 |
| Southampton | Project Stay Cool: Empowering Southampton Against Extreme Heat | $82,770 |
| Truro | Truro Rural Resilience Hubs Powering Emergency Shelter, Local Resilience, And Grid Reliability With Microgrids | $257,500 |
| Uxbridge | Home Brew Dam Removal and Community Engagement | $458,310 |
| Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) | Creation of a Master Plan for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) | $350,270 |
| Warren | Rising Above: Warren's Plan for a Flood-Resilient Future | $234,035 |
| West Newbury | Development of Alternatives to Address Flooding and Erosion along River Road and the bordering Merrimack River Shoreline in West Newbury, MA | $426,938 |
| West Stockbridge (& Stockbridge, Richmond) | Resilient Regional Public Safety Facility Master Plan Feasibility Study and Design | $348,140 |
| Westfield | Westfield Middle School Green Infrastructure Improvements | $810,200 |
| Westhampton | Westhampton Elementary School Solar | $971,856 |
| Williamsburg | Williamsburg Flood Resilience | $1,194,255 |
| Woburn (& Mystic River Communities) | Hurld Park Heat-Resilient Nature Park: Construction | $2,451,500 |
| Worcester | Resilient Worcester: Advancing Community Resilience through Data-Driven Decision Making (Integrated Flood Model), NBS Designs, and Education | $1,090,007 |
| Worthington | Wood Pellet Heating System | $82,025 |
| Total (54) | $28,507,041 |