In this issue....

• Annual Conference Recap

• Mass. Life Sciences Center Tax Incentive Program

• Healey Administration Unveils Economic Development Plan

• MassTrails Grant Program Accepting Applications

• Mass. Taxpayers Foundation Virtual Open House & FY25 Budget Briefing

• Mass. Housing Partnership Technical Assistance Program for MBTA Communities

• Boston MPO Transportation Issues Survey

• MassDEP Watershed Planning Program to Host Virtual Pre-Request for Proposal Meeting



• FY25 Inland Dredging Pilot Round

495/MetroWest Partnership Annual Conference Recap

On December 12th, more than 100 area leaders in business, government, and the non-profit sector attended the 495/MetroWest Partnership’s annual conference at Village Hall on the Common in Framingham.  

The theme for the event was The Future of Transportation in 495/MetroWest; the conference focused on the organization’s revitalized strategic vision and priorities for regional roadway, commuter rail, and regional transit authority (RTA) service improvements.  

As part of the Partnership’s five-year strategic plan, working groups reviewed and updated the organization’s priorities for improved roadways, commuter rail, and Regional Transit Authority services. Each of the updated visions and priorities statements is now available online:

• Our Vision and Priorities for Improved Commuter Rail Service in 495/MetroWest 
• Our Vision and Priorities for Roadway Improvements in 495/MetroWest 
• Our Vision and Priorities for Improved Regional Transit Authority Service in 495/MetroWest

Keynote remarks were made by State Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt, who discussed the interconnectivity of transportation, housing, and economic development.

The conference also highlighted the work done by the region’s legislative delegation on transportation initiatives. Several members of the delegation joined a panel discussion led by Speaker Pro Tempore Kate Hogan about the work involved with establishing an integrated, multi-modal regional transportation system with expanded and better-connected regional transport options and better-maintained roadways. State Senator Michael Moore and State Representatives Simon Cataldo, Hannah Kane, Meghan Kilcoyne, Jack Patrick Lewis, David Linsky and Brian Murray participated in the panel discussion. 

Thank you to our Annual Conference Presenting Sponsors:

Mass. Life Sciences Center Tax Incentive Program

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) Tax Incentive Program is open to companies engaged in life sciences research and development, commercialization, and manufacturing in Massachusetts. The program provides incentives to companies of all sizes looking to expand their efforts by creating new, long-term jobs in Massachusetts.

Eligibility criteria include:

• Companies must be registered to do business in Massachusetts
• Companies must employ at least 10 permanent Massachusetts FTEs (35 hours/week) as of December 31st, 2023
• Companies must commit to hiring at least 10 net new jobs in calendar year 2024 in Massachusetts and commit to retaining those jobs through December 31st, 2028

Interested applicants are required to submit an online application. This is a one-step application process that includes all the information necessary for the applicant company to be certified under the Life Sciences Act. Please see sections 5 and 6 of the Solicitation for more information regarding the application process and further details on the eligibility requirements.

The deadline to apply for this program is February 2nd, 2024, at 12 PM.

Healey Administration Unveils Economic Development Plan

On December 6th, the Healey Administration released its economic development plan, "Team Massachusetts: Leading Future Generations." Under state law, each new administration is required to generate a statewide economic development plan. This plan intends to leverage the Commonwealth's strengths in higher education, healthcare, life sciences, and intellectual capital to support economic growth. 

The plan focuses on three main priorities: Fundamentals (investing in fundamentals of economic growth such as housing and transportation), Talent (retaining and attracting workers from all backgrounds), and Sectors (supporting businesses that power the state’s economy).

Click here to access the complete text of the plan.  

MassTrails Grant Program Accepting Applications

The Commonwealth’s MassTrails Grant is currently accepting applications. The MassTrails grant provides matching grants to communities, public entities, Native nations, and non-profit organizations to plan, design, create, and maintain the diverse network of trails, trail systems, and trails experiences used and enjoyed by Massachusetts residents and visitors.

The award maximum depends on the project type and needs and is generally $100,000 for recreational trails projects and up to $500,000 for shared-use path projects demonstrating critical network connections of regional or statewide significance.

Eligible grant activities include project development, design, engineering, permitting, construction, and maintenance of recreational trails, shared-use pathways, and the amenities that support trails.

Eligible projects require documented landowner permission submitted with the application and are subject to all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations.

Applications are due Thursday, February 1st. To learn more about the MassTrails Grant, and to access the online application, click here.

Mass. Taxpayers Foundation Virtual Open House

& FY25 Budget Briefing

On Friday, January 26th, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation will host a virtual Open House for interested parties to learn how MTF's research and events impact policy decisions and keep members informed. The event will also feature an in-depth overview of the second Healey-Driscoll budget plan, due out by that date, followed by a Q&A.

The event will be hosted virtually on Friday, January 26th from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM; click here to register.

Mass. Housing Partnership Technical Assistance

Program for MBTA Communities

The Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) is still accepting applications for technical assistance from the 177 cities and towns subject to the state’s multifamily zoning requirement for MBTA Communities (MGL Chapter 40A, Section 3A). Eligible activities include selecting district location(s); developing use and intensity requirements; using the state’s compliance model to estimate conformance with capacity yield, size, and contiguity requirements; and drafting zoning amendments.

Applications will be reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis, dependent on consultant availability. Applications will only be accepted from MBTA Communities and they must be signed by the Chief Elected Official or a designated representative. Communities are welcome to apply more than once. Applications are only being accepted through MHP’s online application form. Click here to access the application for technical assistance.

Boston MPO Transportation Issues Survey

The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is collecting ideas for new transportation studies and technical assistance projects to be carried out in Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2025. The MPO is especially interested in studying ideas relating to equity, resiliency, safety, and uncertainty.

Anyone is welcome to submit an idea for a study. Past studies have included investigating hot-button transportation policy issues, designing solutions for increasing public transit access to certain destinations, and exploring new transportation planning methods. Submit your study and project suggestions by completing the survey available at this link or by emailing the Unified Planning Work Program Manager, Srilekha Murthy, at [email protected]. Responses to the survey are being accepted until February 1st.

Requests for technical assistance projects must be submitted in partnership with municipal officials. If you have an idea for a technical assistance project, submit it through this survey along with your contact information and MPO staff will connect you with your local officials to help develop the request. To learn more, visit the MPO’s technical assistance webpage.

MassDEP Watershed Planning Program to Host

Virtual Pre-Request for Proposal Meeting

On Wednesday, January 24th from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, the Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Section in the Watershed Planning Program of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection will conduct a virtual Pre-Request for Proposal (Pre-RFP) meeting to discuss the following upcoming RFPs:

1. Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2023 Clean Water Act (CWA) Section (§) 604(b) Water Quality Management Planning Grant

• Section 604(b) Grants are used for water quality assessment and management planning.
• Eligible entities include regional planning agencies, councils of governments, conservation districts, counties, and cities and towns

2. FFY 2023-2024 CWA §319 NPS Competitive Grant

• Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Grants are used for implementation projects that address the prevention, control, and abatement of nonpoint source pollution (nonpoint source pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground, depositing pollutants into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and ground waters).
• Eligible entities include any Massachusetts public or private organization regional planning entities (council of governments, counties, conservation districts, cities and towns, and other substate planning agencies and interstate agencies)

The NPS Management Section will review new program priorities and flexibilities that have been incorporated as core capacity building initiatives to enhance environmental justice and climate resiliency into these two grants.

FY25 Inland Dredging Pilot Round

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) announced the opening of the FY25 Inland Dredging Pilot Round of the Massachusetts Dredging Program. This round offers final design and construction grants to Massachusetts municipalities to support dredging of freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and drinking water reservoirs, as well as dredging required for the removal of municipal dams.

EOED will host a grant information session for interested applicants via webinar on January 23, 2024, at 12:00 pm. Click here to register for the event.  

To find out more about the Massachusetts Dredging Program FY25 Inland Dredging Pilot Round, click here to access the Request for Proposals (RFP). Questions regarding the RFP will be accepted via email at [email protected] through January 26th, 2024.

Applications to the FY25 Inland Dredging Pilot Round must be submitted through EOED’s online submittable platform. Click here to access the online application. Applications are being accepted through Friday, March 1st.