The Water Resources Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership will host U.S. Representative Lori Trahan of Massachusetts’ 3rd Congressional District virtually on Thursday, November 4th at 10:00 AM. The Congresswoman will discuss her work on the House Energy & Commerce and Natural Resources Committees, as well as comprehensive PFAS legislation recently passed by the House.

This event will be hosted virtually via Zoom; advance registration is required. Click here to register.

Congresswoman Trahan has served since in the House since 2019, and represents the 495/MetroWest Partnership communities of Acton, Berlin, Bolton, Boxborough, Harvard, Hudson, Littleton, Marlborough, Maynard, Stow, Sudbury, and Westford, where she resides. Congresswoman Trahan had previously served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Martin Meehan before moving to the private sector.

The 495/MetroWest Partnership’s Water Resources Committee focuses on issues related to water and water resources in the region, including but not limited to the region's rivers and watersheds, other bodies of water, drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, permitting, regulations, health and safety/ water quality, water supply, environmental protection, and infrastructure. Participation in committee events and meetings is open to all interested stakeholders.

The Citizens' Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) is currently seeking 2-3 additional communities to apply for its Municipal Engagement Initiative (MEI) and 3-4 communities for its MEI Lite Program. Municipal governments and community organizations throughout the Commonwealth are encouraged to submit an application.

CHAPA’s Municipal Engagement Initiative seeks to build support for affordable housing production in communities across the Commonwealth. CHAPA staff will work with community groups and municipalities to conduct public education efforts in support of housing production, with an emphasis on affordable housing. Staff will work with communities to develop strategies that work within the context of each community. This initiative will also work in concert with the efforts of other organizations providing technical assistance and other support to communities.

Applicants must submit an electronic copy of the application to Dana LeWinter, Director of Municipal Engagement, at dlewinter@chapa.org by 5 PM on Thursday, October 28th.

To learn more about the Initiative and to obtain an application, visit CHAPA's Municipal Engagement Initiative webpage. 

The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has released its new Public Outreach Plan (the Plan) to provide guidelines for achieving effective engagement in the regional transportation planning process. The Plan guides the MPO’s Public Outreach Program (POP), which comprises all outreach activities, public meetings, and communications, to ensure that all members of the public— including people who have been underserved by the transportation system and/or have lacked access to the decision-making process—are given the opportunity to be part of the metropolitan planning process. The POP guides the MPO’s efforts to offer continuous and meaningful opportunities for members of the public to influence MPO transportation planning decision-making in the Boston region.

Click here to review the proposed Plan in its entirety. Comments are being accepted until 5:00 PM on October 6th. Comments may be sent to to publicinfo@ctps.org or submitted via an online feedback form. The MPO expects to vote to endorse the new POP at its meeting on October 21st.

495/MetroWest Partnership communities that are served by the Boston Region MPO are Acton, Ashland, Bellingham, Bolton, Boxborough, Foxborough, Framingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Littleton, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Medway, Milford, Millis, Natick, Norfolk, Sherborn, Southborough, Stow, Sudbury, Wayland, and Wrentham.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will host a series of overview webinars for its Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracting Program throughout the Fall; the next session will be held this Thursday, September 23rd at 3:00 PM. These seminar sessions will give a general overview of the program, eligibility for the program, guidance on preparing to apply, and completing and submitting an application. The sessions will cover relevant issues and trends in the program and include a question and answer portion.

Click here to register for the September 23rd session, or to review dates for later sessions. Following registration, additional follow-up details, including log-in information for the webinar, will be emailed from WOSBTraining@sba.gov to the email address provided by registrants.

Click here to learn more about the WOSB Federal Contracting Program. 

The Town of Southborough is seeking applicants for a Business Administrator to the Planning Department. This full-time benefitted position requires a team player with excellent customer service, superior organizational, office management, and technical skills. Duties include answering inquiries from the public, town officials, staff and applicants, meeting preparation, assisting applicants with permitting process, processing permit applications, bookkeeping functions, in addition to providing administrative support and planning assistance to the Town Planner and the Planning Board. 3-5 years of municipal government, planning department, or related experience is preferred. Click here to access the full job posting, which includes educational requirements, salary range, and a link to an online application.

To view all upcoming events or view recordings of past virtual events, visit the "Events & Committee Meetings" section of our website 495Partnership.org.

Throughout 2021, the 495/MetroWest Partnership is acknowledging our Investors in our Information & Resource Updates. Click here to learn about becoming an Investor!

Framingham State University was founded in 1839 as the nation’s first public university for the education of teachers. Today, Framingham State is a comprehensive institution with more than 4,800 undergraduate and graduate students and 62 degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences, and professional fields. The University is located just 20 miles outside of Boston on a picturesque New England campus in the middle of the vibrant MetroWest economic corridor. FSU’s primary focus is on student success, preparing students to excel personally and professionally in an increasingly complex and competitive global economy.

The 495/MetroWest Partnership thanks Framingham State University for their ADVOCATE level investment! Check out our full list of Investors online at 495Partnership.org.