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Date: 9/20/2023
CHICOPEE — The city of Chicopee has been awarded funding that will be used to address vulnerabilities in the face of climate change.
On Aug. 30, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $31.5 million in grants for climate resilience implementation and planning throughout the state.
Through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program, communities are provided with funding and technical assistance to back the climate resilience planning process and implement priority actions to adapt to climate change.
In April, Gov. Maura Healey launched MVP Planning 2.0, which serves as the next phase to the administration’s flagship program.
According to Healey’s office, “It supports communities in updating their climate change resilience plans in a way that centers environmental justice and other priority populations most impacted by climate change and putting these plans into action.”
The awards announced include $3 million in funding for MVP 2.0 to 28 municipalities, one regional group and one tribe. The communities will receive funding to complete MVP 2.0 in 2023-2025.
On that list is the city of Chicopee, which was awarded a total of $95,000.
Mayor John Vieau said, “The funds will be used to address climate vulnerabilities, prioritize environmental justice communities, support vulnerable groups, enhance ongoing resilience projects and potentially create new demonstration projects to increase the quantity and quality of resilient infrastructure in Chicopee.”
According to his office, “These projects will serve as demonstration projects to kickstart broader resiliency efforts and align with the Comprehensive Plan, ‘Envision our Chicopee 2040.’”
The Vieau administration added, “Chicopee has a significant population falling under the category of environmental justice, including those with English language isolation, low income and minority status. The funds will be used to prioritize the needs and participation of these [environmental justice] communities in all planning and resilience efforts. This commitment to centering these individuals is a critical aspect of the project.”
In addition to the environmental justice communities, the funds will support vulnerable groups such as individuals with health conditions, disabilities and veterans, as they face “disproportionate risks related to climate change,” said the Mayor’s Office. The funds will ensure their “inclusion and resilience.”
In the past, the city of Chicopee has applied for MVP Action Grants and received other funding to implement various climate resilience projects. These include viable architecture, open space protection with climate-resilient materials and community engagement efforts — all of which will be complemented and enhanced with these funds.
“One of the ongoing projects mentioned is the dam removal project at Abbey Memorial Brook,” according to the Mayor’s Office. “This project aims to restore the stream to its natural habitat, implement stormwater management practices and address infrastructure issues. Additional funding from [American Rescue Plan Act] funds will be used for this project.”
The city recently submitted an application for the MVP Action Grant for fiscal year 2024 and is awaiting the review process. If awarded the MVP 2.0 Pilot Grant, it will be used to inform and support resilience outcomes. A core team will then be established to lead resilience priorities, potentially allowing for an additional demonstration project, the Mayor’s Office explained.