Sen. Eldridge Urges Governor Healey to Increase Funding for the MVP
Letter signed by 16 Senators requests increased funding for the Municipal Vulnerability Program
BOSTON — State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough) led a letter to Governor Healey requesting for two improvements in the next Environmental Bond Bill: first, to increase funding for the Municipal Vulnerability Program (MVP), and second, to allow local communities to use 3-5 years to complete MVP action grants. In total, 16 MA State Senators signed the letter.
The Municipal Vulnerability Program was established during FY2018 and was allocated $7 million in initial funding. Currently, it averages $25 million per year in funding. These funds are primarily used for local and regional action grants that focus on community-based solutions to climate issues. Such projects include creating heat-resilient neighborhood parks, preparing for climate refugees, and elevating coastlines to protect neighborhoods.
Massachusetts faces pressing climate issues, including aging infrastructure and warmer winters. The currently allocated funds do not adequately provide communities with the resources they need to become more climate resilient in the face of these issues. The letter recommends that MVP funding should be increased to $500 million over five years, or $100 million per year. It also recommends that communities receive 3-5 years to use MVP action grant funds instead of 1-2 years. Both of these measures would allow for the successful completion of complex projects throughout the Commonwealth.
The Senators praised Governor Healey for her commitment to protecting local communities in the face of extreme weather events and for helping local communities adequately prepare for the impacts of climate change. Increased funding for the MVP would provide communities in Massachusetts with more essential resources for creating safe, livable towns and cities.
“We are excited to raise awareness about much-needed improvements for the MVP,” said State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough), Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Caucus. “I look forward to working with Governor Healey and the members of the MA Clean Energy Caucus to better equip our communities with the resources they need to combat the impacts of climate change.”
"The MVP grant program combines the best of state and local government: state funding and technical support to move local priorities forward," said Julie Wormser, Senior Policy Advisor of the Mystic River Watershed Association and a member of the Massachusetts MVP Coalition. "We're super grateful to Senator Eldridge and his colleagues for bringing this essential grant program to scale to help communities prepare for increasingly extreme weather."
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