SRPEDD Bulletin

Fall/Winter 2023


Happy holiday season from the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District! The SRPEDD Bulletin contains updates about upcoming events, ongoing projects, grant opportunities, and technical assistance opportunities throughout the year. 

Community Events

Slade’s Ferry Neighborhood Plan Open House

Thursday, December 7, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Somerset Public Library

Freetown Master Plan Traveling Workshop

Tuesday, December 12, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Freetown Council on Aging

Mass Audobon: Growing Solar, Protecting Nature

Tuesday, December 12, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Lakeville Public Library

Town of Somerset Winterfest

December 17, 2023, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Somerset Berkley Regional Highschool

Rochester Master Plan Public Open House #2

Thursday, January 25, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Rochester Council on Aging

SRPEDD Events

RESC Networking Meeting

Friday, December 8, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

GATHER, Fall River

SRPEDD Commission Meeting

Wednesday, December 13, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Virtual

JTPG Meeting

December 13, 2023 2:00-3:00 PM

Hybrid, SRPEDD Office in Taunton

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Workshop

December 14, 2023 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

MassDOT District 5 Office, Taunton 

SMMPO Meeting

December 19, 2023 1:00-2:00 PM

Virtual

Visit our calendar for more details
SRPEDD In the Community

This Fall, SPREDD staff have actively engaged our project communities in ongoing planning processes. Staff hosted public workshops for the Freetown and Rochester Master Plans, attended the Dighoton Arts Festival for the Dighton Economic Development Plan, sought initial feedback for the Route 28 Corridor Study at Middleborough’s Crantoberfest, and kicked off public engagement for the Slade’s Ferry Neighborhood Plan at the Southcoast Open Air Market where staff invited Somerset residents to the upcoming December 7 public workshop at Somerset Public Library.


Part of a community with an active SRPEDD project? Contact our Public Engagement Planner Maria Jones at mjones@srpedd.org to inform us of any events we should attend in your community.

Over 200 Attend Homeland Security Search and Rescue Event

On October 4th, more than two hundred and fifty personnel across a dozen state and regional law enforcement, technical rescue, and civilian search and rescue teams came together for a simulated missing persons search. One of the unwritten objectives of this exercise was to bring together the combined search and rescue teams within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts before a real-world emergency does it for us. The search and rescue community of Massachusetts will use this AAR-IP for inspiration for future trainings, equipment purchases, and more joint exercises.


Think there may be an opportunity to conduct a similar training in your community? Reach out to Homeland Security Director Kevin Ham at kham@srpedd.org.

TIP Development Underway

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) development season is currently underway – we are actively seeking information on projects in preparation for the development of the Federal Fiscal Year 2025-2029 TIP.


Do you have critical transportation projects that need funding? Need help understanding how the Transportation Improvement Program TIP works? Join us for an informative and engaging workshop on everything TIP on December 14 at 9 AM at the MassDOT District 5 Training Room (1000 County Street, Taunton, MA 02780)! The workshop is designed to give you all the information you need to develop a competitive and effective TIP project. The workshop will include:

  • An overview of the application process
  • Best practices for public engagement
  • Information on the right of way and permitting processes
  • Sources and categories of funding, and much more!


Please register at srpedd.org/TIP or contact Assistant Director of Transportation Planning Jackie Jones at jjones@srpedd.org for more information. 

TIP Promotional Flyer


FY24 Community One Stop Awardees - Click for More
Mansfield Bio Incubator $1.25Million

On November 10, 2023, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced a $1.25 million award through the agency’s Build 2 Scale Venture Challenge for the Southeastern Massachusetts Life Science Eco-system led by the Mansfield Bio-Incubator.


Read more on our 'Growth at a Glance' Newsletter

Federal Funds Partnership: A new working group that meets monthly to provide targeted updates on federal funding opportunities and connect municipal leaders across Massachusetts with resources for technical assistance and state-matching funds


Guides for Equitable and Actionable Resilience (GEAR): Provides communities with access to data and guidance to assess climate change impacts, as well as actions and case studies for building community resilience


2023 ResilientMass Plan: The Commonwealth’s State Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan (SHMCAP) outlines statewide goals and can help guide local decision-making



Massachusetts Technical Potential for Solar Report and Mass Audubon's Growing Solar, Protecting Nature Report; Reports that outline considerations for developing solar while considering climate impacts 

Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Expression of Interest

Application Deadline: December 15, 2023

Available and strongly encouraged to communities that intend to submit a formal application in Spring 2024 for projects that address climate change impacts from extreme weather, sea level rise, inland and coastal flooding, severe heat, and other climate impacts.


MassDEP Section 319 Nonpoint Source Competitive Grants Program

Application Deadline: December 15, 2023

This grant program is authorized under Section 319 of the federal Clean Water Act for implementation projects that address the prevention, control, and abatement of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution.


MA Broadband Institute Gap Networks Infrastructure Grant Program

Application Period:

Round #1 October 25, 2023 – December 11, 2023

Round #2 March 6 – April 17, 2024

This funding aims to address the critical digital needs of towns and cities, with a particular focus on communities with substantial low-income households and disadvantaged populations. The Program will fund the deployment of broadband infrastructure in areas that currently lack access to sufficient broadband internet service, defined as a service offering download speeds of at least 100 Mbps and upload speeds of at least 20 Mbps.


Compact Efficiency and Regionalization Program

Application Period: January 8 - February 9, 2024

Provides one-time funds of $100K - 200K to assist in the planning and implementing regionalization and other efficiency initiatives that support long-term municipal sustainability.


ACT School Bus Fleet Deployment Program

Application Deadline: January 11, 2024

Provides up to $2.5 million to public school districts/private school bus contractors eligible for the EPA Clean School Bus Program for depot upgrades, electric school bus purchases, and associated charging infrastructure.


MassDOT Transit Innovation Grant

Application Deadline: January 19, 2023

Provides any transit provider in MA $100K - $1 million for projects that enhance and expand transit service, electrify fleets, increase rural connectivity, improve connectivity across regional transit authority service areas, and other infrastructure and capital investments.


MassTrails Grant Program

Application Deadline: February 1, 2024

Provides $100-500K for project development, design, engineering, permitting, construction, and maintenance of recreation trail and shared-use pathway projects across the Commonwealth.


Community Development Block Grant Program 

Anticipated Application Deadline: March 2024

Program funding is administered through EOHLC and can help communities pursue a diverse range of goals including the provision of housing, expansion of economic opportunities for low-and moderate-income persons, and the development and enhancement of community facilities and programs.


Accelerating Clean Transportation (ACT) Grant Advisory Services Program

Rolling deadline

Through MA Clean Energy Center, provides free school bus fleet electrification planning support to public school districts and third-party school bus fleet operators.

Freetown Community Master Plan


Over the next two years, Freetown will create a new Master Plan, also called a Comprehensive Plan, that will help guide the town moving forward. We are currently seeking responses to the comprehensive survey and opportunities to speak at community events.

Slade's Ferry Neighborhood Plan


Over the next 6 months, the Town of Somerset, with assistance from SPREDD, will create a renewed strategy that will help guide development in the Slade's Ferry Neighborhood. The project team will be hosting a public workshop at the Somerset Library on December 7th at 6 PM

MBI Seeks Feedback


Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) launched a public comment period to gather feedback about the state’s Internet for All Plan – a Statewide Digital Equity Plan and the Initial Proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and an initial proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. To deploy over $145 million in funds towards broadband and digital equity, MBI is gathering input from residents, municipalities, and organizational stakeholders across Massachusetts both online and via mail. 

Rochester Master Plan


Rochester is updating its Master Plan that will help guide the town moving forward. The project team will host a Land Use, Economic Development, Housing, and Transportation open house on January 25th at 6 PM.

Route 28 Corridor Study


SRPEDD is evaluating opportunities for transportation and land use improvements from Cushman Street in Middleborough, through Rochester, to Charlotte Furnace Road in Wareham.  

Mansfield Open Space and Recreation Plan


SRPEDD is working with the Town of Mansfield to support the realization of high-quality open space and recreation facilities.

88 Broadway
Taunton, MA 02780
Phone: 508-824-1367
Fax: 508-823-1803
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