Pioneer Valley Progress Report: July 2023

JULY 2023

Welcome back to the Pioneer Valley Progress Report.

Our thoughts and intentions are with those impacted by this month's flooding - impacting homeowners, businesses, and nearly 75 farms across Western and Central Massachusetts.

If you are able to contribute to the relief fund for our friends and neighbors in local agriculture, stood up by Governor Healey and the United Way of Central Massachusetts, please do so here.

Of course we know these extreme rainfall events also hurt the water quality of our lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers. On the Connecticut River, excessive rain continues to cause combined sewer overflow events. Thankfully, we have some great news to share on our ongoing efforts to address our region's legacy infrastructure at the root of this problem.

And while water is understandably on everyone's minds this month, we are also excited to get to work addressing contaminated land across our region ready for a second act in service to our local economies.

Below, please find just a sampling of the work we are proudly contributing to as your state-designated regional planning agency!

-Kimberly H. Robinson, Executive Director

A Helping Hand from the Healey Administration

Governor Maura Healey's Administration has launched an online resource guide for those impacted by this month's flooding in Western and Central Massachusetts.

Please help ensure anyone who needs support during this difficult time is aware of this initiative by sharing this online resource broadly.

State Provides $1 million to go to Combined Sewer Overflows

PVPC's Connecticut River Cleanup Committee secured nearly $1 million for water pollution prevention infrastructure projects in Springfield, Chicopee, and Holyoke as part of a 30-year effort to remove all Combined Sewer Overflows from our Valley.

Preparing Polluted Parcels for Prosperous Potential

PVPC is thrilled and grateful to the EPA for providing our agency with $500,000 to assess and guide the cleanup of polluted parcels in South Hadley and Ware in order to put these places back to work for our regional economy!

Welcome Jacob!

Jakob X. Tilsch joins us as a Data Analyst after recently graduating from Westfield State University.

Jake will be providing data support and analysis for a wide range of planning projects across the PVPC and throughout its member communities. He brings a passion for statistics and economics from college and his personal projects.