The Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grant program (MVP) provides support for cities and towns in Massachusetts to begin the process of planning for climate change resiliency and implementing priority projects. The state awards communities with funding to complete vulnerability assessments and develop action-oriented resiliency plans. Communities who complete the MVP program become certified as an MVP community and are eligible for MVP Action grant funding and other opportunities.
Initial Planning Grant
Weston was awarded a grant in June 2019 for the MVP planning phase, enabling the Town to work on locally relevant and prioritized vulnerability assessments with citizen and staff feedback. It will also be used to update our local Hazard Mitigation. This process examined the town’s vulnerabilities and strengths, and identified priority actions to build resilience as the climate changes.
Planning Workshops
A core team meeting took place in September 2019, and two 4-hour workshops were held in October 2019. The workshops were conducted with 35 Town Departments and key stakeholders within and around the community.
The planning process culminated in a public listening session, which took place on November 6, 2019. All Weston community members and residents were invited to share their concerns about the local effects of climate change and talk about how we can work together to be more prepared.
An MVP Community
Having completed the Planning Grant’s scope, Weston is an MVP community and secured substantial Action Grant funding to develop a detailed Climate Action and Resilience Plan. Weston was awarded $100,000 to complete this project with the help of professional support. Weston Ahead was completed in May 2021.
Details of the Weston Ahead: Climate Action and Resilience Plan and Weston's updated Hazard Mitigation Plan, as well as the blueprints of the identified priority actions can be found on the following web pages: