BOSTON, MA – The Town of Marshfield was recently awarded a $78,030 grant through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program to support their long-term Coastal Resilience Plan. The grant program, which was created in 2017 as part of Governor Baker’s Executive Order 569, provides communities with funding and technical support to identify climate hazards, develop strategies to improve resilience, and implement priority actions to adapt to climate change.
Marshfield released its Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan in March of 2018 and has been partnering with state and federal stakeholders since then to implement the plan. In addition to this round of MVP grant funding, Marshfield was awarded funds through the program in April of 2019 to complete a climate change vulnerability assessment.
“As we have seen in recent years, our climate is rapidly changing and we need to be prepared for every situation,” said Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth). “That means investing in programs like this, so our coastal communities are able to mitigate potential economic, social, and environmental impacts of extreme weather events. Marshfield has a well-thought-out plan and it’s great to see them take this next step.”
"As I continue to work with local leaders on our coastal resiliency issues in the district, I am increasingly aware of the rigorous planning underway to address the rapid impact of climate change on neighborhoods and businesses," remarked Representative Patrick Kearney (D-Scituate). "I am grateful to the state administration for providing the Town of Marshfield with funds that will help those most in need as we address the challenges of the rising sea levels that come with climate change."
Through this latest round of funding, 93% of Massachusetts cities and towns, or 328 municipalities, are now enrolled in the MVP program. The program pairs local leadership and knowledge with a significant investment of resources and funding from the Commonwealth to address ongoing climate change impacts, such as inland flooding, storms, sea level rise, and extreme temperatures.
MVP Action Grant funding may be used to implement priority on-the-ground projects. Projects are focused on proactive strategies to address climate change impacts and may include retrofitting and adapting infrastructure, actions to invest in and protect environmental justice communities and improve public health, detailed vulnerability assessments or design and engineering studies, stormwater upgrades, dam retrofits and removals, culvert upgrades, drought mitigation, energy resilience, and projects that focus on implementing nature-based solutions such as wetland restoration and floodplain protection.