September 2025
MAPC Matters
| |  | | |
Need to Know Now
Making It Public for MA 2026 Cohort Applications
The New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), in partnership with MAPC's Arts and Culture Department is pleased to invite municipalities to apply for the Making It Public (MIP) for Massachusetts 2026 cohort.
The application deadline is: Monday, September 29, 2025
Visit the Program Webpage for More Information
| |
MAPC's Technical Assistance Program (TAP) - We want to hear your input!
Help us understand your priorities and barriers for the upcoming year through a short survey, so we can structure the Technical Assistance Program (TAP) to best support you! This survey does not take the place of our annual Call for Proposals. The survey will give us an early idea of what you’re interested in working on with MAPC this year so we can best prepare.
The deadline to take the survey is: Friday, September 26, 2025
Take the TAP Survey
| |
Metro Mayors Shannon Grant Youth Conference
As part of the Metro Mayors Shannon Grant Community Safety Initiative, a summer activity is held every year that involves local youth, law enforcement, community leaders, and others. This year, the summer activity consisted of a Shannon Grant Youth Conference hosted by MAPC. The Youth Conference is a new structure for the summer activity and focused on engagement activities and presentations.
Read the Youth Conference Blog Post
| |
MBTA Fall Service Schedules
Last month, the MBTA announced their Fall 2025 service schedules that went into effect on August 24.
You can find all of the information on their Fall 2025 Service Schedules Announced: MBTA Continues to Make Improvements to Bus and Subway Service posting online.
Access the MBTA Fall Service Schedules Information
| | |
Sustainability Day at the State House
On Tuesday, September 9, MAPC joined over 30+ organizations and hundreds of advocates for the first ever Sustainability Day at the State House. The event included a Sustainability Showcase, remarks from Chair Nguyen and Vice Chair Ciccolo from the House Committee on Climate Action & Sustainability as well as a keynote address from Climate Chief Hoffer. MAPC's Director of Clean Energy, Julie Curti, also participated on a panel on Municipal Best Practices for Climate Leadership to share how MAPC can help municipalities hit their climate goals and save money.
Photo: MAPC Director of Clean Energy Julie Curti (standing) speaking on the Municipal Best Practices for Climate Leadership panel | Photo Credit: MAPC.
| |
Donuts and Decarb: A Zero Carbon Renovation Fund (ZCRF) Briefing
At 11:00 a.m. on September 16, MAPC will join 200 plus organizations to host Donuts and Decarb: A ZCRF Briefing at the State House.
The event will offer an opportunity for legislators and staff to learn more about S.2286/H.3577, An Act Establishing a Zero Carbon Renovation Fund including how the fund will help jumpstart the market for zero carbon renovations, save residents money, and advance equitable building decarbonization efforts across Massachusetts.
| | |
MARPA and DLS Conference 2025 - Save the Date and Register
Hosted by the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA) and the Division of Local Services (DLS), the Statewide Municipal Partnerships Conference brings together municipal and regional leaders from across the Commonwealth for a half day of networking, conversations on pressing issues, and the sharing of best practices.
We are honored that Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll will once again keynote the 2025 Statewide Municipal Partnerships Conference!
October 7, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (doors open at 8:30 a.m.)
Hogan Campus Center - Ballroom, College of the Holy Cross
1 College St, Worcester, MA 01610
Don't miss the opportunity to join us - register today!
Register for the MARPA and DLS Conference
| | Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Signs and Lines Program | | |
Application Deadline
Friday, October 3, 2025
| | |
Grant Authority
MA Dept of Transportation (MassDOT)
| | | |
Description
This program will provide design services and construction funding (up to $10,000) to a municipality for a low-cost infrastructure project around a public elementary, middle school, or high school.
The focus for this program is to eliminate barriers students may fact in walking, bicycling, and using wheeled mobility devices to and from school.
Eligibility
Visit the SRTS Program webpage for full information.
| | Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Infrastructure Project Funding Program | | |
Application Deadline
Friday, October 17, 2025
| | |
Grant Authority
MA Dept of Transportation (MassDOT)
| | | |
Description
Facilitates bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements to support safety, access, and mobility for students who walk, bicycle, or use a wheeled mobility device to get to and from school.
Eligibility
Visit the SRTS Program webpage for full information.
| |
Microtransit and Last Mile Transit Grant | | |
Application Deadline
Friday, November 7, 2025
| | |
Grant Authority
MA Dept of Transportation (MassDOT)
| | | |
Description
Funding for existing or new microtransit or last mile transit services. This is a new grant program.
To learn how microtransit and last mile transit is defined, please visit the program's webpage. Register to attend a pre-application training for this program.
Eligibility
Municipalities, nonprofit organizations, Transportation Management Associations (TMAs), and transit authorities.
| | Community Transit Grant Program - Operating and Mobility Management | | |
Application Deadline
Friday, November 7, 2025
| | |
Grant Authority
MA Dept of Transportation (MassDOT)
| | | |
Description
This program provides funding to eligible entities for expanding mobility transportation or mobility management access to persons with disabilities, older adults, and low-income individuals. Register to attend a pre-application training.
Eligibility
Municipalities, nonprofit organizations, transit authorities, and private entities who provide shared-ride public transit.
| | Local Early and Actionable Planning (LEAP) Program | | |
Application Deadline
Accepted on a rolling basis. Please see below.
| | |
Grant Authority
MA Dept of Transportation (MassDOT)
| | | |
Application Deadline
Applications accepted on a rolling basis and will be reviewed/approved to move forward based on available funding.
Description
To provide support (planning and early-design support) to municipalities for transportation infrastructure projects. MassDOT's support will include capacity building for transportation projects, department staff support, and on-call staff support. Learn more about this program on their LEAP webpage.
Eligibility
Priority will be given to rural communities, Gateway Cities, and those that have similar capacity and funding needs. Visit the program webpage to learn more about the program eligibility, as well as to view a list of eligible projects.
| | |
Technical Assistance
If your municipality is interested in applying for grant funding but lacks staff capacity, MAPC may be able to help. Grant Assistance Program (GAP) funding could allow you to seek assistance from knowledgeable Regional Planning Agency (RPA) staff, which can also lead to more competitive regional and multi-municipal applications, increasing the likelihood of receiving funding. For inquiries or questions, contact Gloria Huangpu (ghuangpu@mapc.org).
| | |
*New* MAPC Tools, Resources, and Opportunities to Participate | | |
Municipal Affordable Housing Trusts
Many cities and towns across Greater Boston have established local Affordable Housing Trusts (AHTs) to manage Community Preservation Act funds and other contributing funding sources to increase the local share of affordable housing.
| |
| |
There is now a new MAPC webpage to support municipalities with information and resources focused on AHTs. It also includes information on the Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination (MAGIC) subregion's Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Convenings. MAPC is hosting these convenings throughout 2025 and 2026.
Go to the Affordable Housing Trusts Webpage
| | |
DataCommon Tool Now Updated
DataCommon, MAPC's statewide open data resource that provides information on a wide variety of topics for every Massachusetts municipality, has been updated to include new features. The updates focus on the Community Profiles pages, making it easier to access, view, and download data about each municipality, while increasing the legibility and navigability of the site overall.
DataCommon was originally launched in 2006 and allows anyone to access data published by the Census Bureau, various state agencies, and MAPC about the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts.
Access the Updated DataCommon Tool
Read Statewide Tool Updated for Easier Viewing, Downloading, and Visibility Post
| | We encourage you to continuously check out the employment page on our website for any upcoming positions. | | |
Amid climate change challenges, Shade presents obvious answer: Let teens show how to be cooler
Publication Date: August 31, 2025 | Source: Cambridge Day
“The Sennott Park facility is the second of its kind; the first went up last year not too far away at Donnelly Field as part of the city’s Shade is Social Justice program, which drew a climate resiliency grant from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and Barr Foundation.”
| |
Media Advisory: O’Brien Towers
Publication Date: August 27, 2025 | Source: Quincy Access Television (YouTube)
Full recording of MAPC, the City of Quincy, and the Quincy Housing Authority’s launch of a local “Apartment Wi-Fi” program to increase access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet for residents of O’Brien Towers – 274 apartments for seniors and people with disabilities.
| |
The new Seaport District? Restoration of Lynn’s waterfront has developers closing in on city’s South Harbor
Publication Date: August 22, 2025 | Source: CommonWealth Beacon
“There is less than one deed-restricted affordable housing unit for every four eligible households in Lynn, according to a 2021 Metropolitan Area Planning Council housing report titled “Housing Lynn: A Plan for Inclusive Growth.” At that time, the city needed 15,405 more affordable housing units just to meet the needs of current residents.”
| |
Master planning process to include targeted outreach, community opinion survey
Publication Date: August 7, 2025 | Source: The Hull Times
“The master plan steering committee met recently for the second time to hear project updates from Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) staff, which is providing technical assistance, and to begin thinking about ways to engage the community through an outreach campaign to raise awareness about the project.”
| | |
|
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events, and we encourage you to check our online events calendar often for new and updated event postings.
| | |
Introducing the Climate Resilience Playbook: An Online Resource for Massachusetts Communities (virtual) - Today!
September 10, 2025 | 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
| | |
Join the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), and Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) for a webinar to officially launch the Climate Resilience Playbook (the Playbook).
The Playbook is an online interactive tool that local planners can use to identify and prioritize resilience actions for their communities.
| | | |
During the webinar you will learn more about the collaborative engagement process that shaped the Playbook, its features, and opportunities to help shape this evolving tool.
Want a sneak peek of the Playbook? Access the Playbook here!
Questions? Please contact:
Van Du, Director of Environmental Planning, vdu@mapc.org
Emma Zehner, Senior Clean Energy and Climate Planner, ezehner@mapc.org
| |
Celebrating Disability Pride - Cambridge, Massachusetts (in-person)
October 4, 2025 | 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
A festive event for the whole community that aims to increase visibility, dignity, and inclusion of people with disabilities while raising awareness and reducing stigma.
All are invited!
Learn more about this event on the Celebrating Disability Pride event webpage.
MAPC is lead on the Cambridge Health and Disability Access Project. This event is a byproduct and one component of the project.
Questions? Please contact:
Ursula Kiczkowski, Lead Investigator, ukiczkowski@mapc.org
| |
2025 MARPA and DLS Conference (in-person)
October 7, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (doors open at 8:30 a.m.)
Hosted by the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA) and the Division of Local Services (DLS), the Statewide Municipal Partnerships Conference brings together municipal and regional leaders from across the Commonwealth for a half day of networking, conversations on pressing issues, and the sharing of best practices.
We are honored that Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll will once again keynote the 2025 Statewide Municipal Partnerships Conference!
Don’t miss the opportunity to join us – register today!
Questions? Please contact:
Norman Abbott, Senior Government Affairs Specialist, nabbott@mapc.org
| |
Designing a Community Engagement Strategy | Community Engagement Conversations (virtual)
October 9, 2025 | 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Join the MAPC Community Engagement Team for this Conversation to learn how MAPC creates strategies for community engagement that meets people where they are.
MAPC’s Community Engagement Conversations focus on different topics to support the engagement work within your own community.
The series provides an introduction to the services MAPC offers when you work with the MAPC Community Engagement Team.
Visit the Community Engagement Conversations webpage to learn more about this series. You can also register for one or more of the Conversations using one registration form.
Questions? Please contact:
Javier Gutierrez, Director of Community Engagement, jgutierrez@mapc.org
| |
2025 MAPC's Fall Council Meeting (in-person)
October 29, 2025 | 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Robbins Memorial Town Hall Auditorium, 730 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA
Please join us for the in-person Fall Council Meeting!
Additional information will be coming soon. For now, we encourage you to save the date and time on your calendar, and register to hold your seat.
Questions? Please contact:
Emma Koontz, Council Engagement Specialist, ekoontz@mapc.org
| |
MPO Corner: News from our partner in transportation planning
The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is Boston’s regional transportation planning agency. MAPC is one of 23 voting MPO board members. Subscribe for updates and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Bluesky, and X at @BostonRegionMPO.
| The MPO's Community Advisory Council Welcomes New Members |
- 495/MetroWest Partnership
- A Better City
- Abundant Housing MA
- Bike to the Sea
- City of Chelsea
- Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corp. (CSNDC)
- Conservation Law Foundation (CLF)
- LivableStreets Alliance
- MA Healthy Aging Collaborative
- MassBike
- Mystic River Watershed Association
- Mystic Valley Elder Services
- Prevention Research Center (PRC) on Nutrition and Physical Activity, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- T4MA
- Town Green
- Town of Natick
- TransitMatters
- Watertown TMA
The Community Advisory Council’s mission is to create space for
knowledge-building and productive discussions about regional transportation issues, advise the MPO board and staff, and ensure that planning and policy decisions are responsive to public priorities and consistent with the MPO’s long-range vision and goals. Meeting dates and materials are available on the MPO meeting calendar.
Visit the Community Advisory Council webpage to learn more.
| |
Upcoming MPO Meetings and Events:
Sunday, September 14:
Boston Open Streets: Dorchester (MPO Engagement)
Thursday, September 18:
MPO Meeting
Public attendance and comments are welcome at all MPO meetings and events. Visit the MPO’s website for more information. Meeting dates and materials are available on the MPO meeting calendar. Submit questions and comments via the MPO’s feedback forms.
| | | | Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Subscribe to receive MAPC Matters to your inbox every month. Visit the MAPC Newsletter Page to access all of our newsletters, and subscribe to those that interest you. |
| |
Your monthly MAPC newsletter. | | | | | |
