Barrett Planning Group, a planning and community development firm providing strategic, community-focused solutions across New England, is working with the Towns of Mattapoisett, Mendon, and Westborough on Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness 2.0 (mass.gov/municipal-vulnerability-preparedness-mvp-program) projects after each community received a $100,000 grant through the state program earlier this year. The projects focus on climate resilience and the specific vulnerabilities facing each community.

Administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-energy-and-environmental-affairs), the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness 2.0 Planning Grant program builds on communities’ previous climate resilience work, with an additional focus on social resilience, equity, and community participation. The program helps communities identify and implement strategies to address climate risks while considering factors such as housing and food insecurity that can affect residents’ ability to prepare for and respond to climate impacts.

Each community faces different climate challenges. Mendon and Westborough are considering extreme precipitation, heat waves, and winter storms; while Mattapoisett is addressing vulnerabilities associated with sea level rise and storm surge. 

In all three communities, the group is working with municipal staff, community liaisons, local stakeholders, and equity-focused organizations to gather local input and help communities turn their resilience priorities into practical projects.

The two-year efforts build on earlier climate resilience planning and will place greater emphasis on equity and social vulnerability. The projects will bring municipal staff and community liaisons together to examine how issues such as housing affordability and food security affect residents’ ability to prepare for climate impacts. In each town, municipal staff and community members will work together to identify local priorities, consider social vulnerabilities, and develop projects for implementation to strengthen local resilience. 

Submitted by Barrett Planning Group (edited for clarity)