SHELBURNE FALLS — A new grant program developed by the Baker-Polito administration will help towns and cities better prepare for and minimize the damages they may face from climate change and severe weather.
It’s called the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant program, and it is intended to help communities identify major climate-change-related vulnerabilities.
State Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton came to the Bridge of Flowers to announce the grant program, as part of the state’s Earth Week celebration.
Beaton said the two-year grant program will make available $500,000 to towns and cities this year. Another $500,000 in grant money would be awarded the second year.
While he remarked on being “in such a beautiful sliver of earth,” Selectboard Chairman Rob Riggan pointed out that the Bridge of Flowers had river water running over it during Tropical Storm Irene.
“Damage to this town was over $4 million,” Riggan pointed out. “We’re still having trouble getting money for it. And I don’t think Irene is going to be an exception.”
The grant program will provide money to cities and towns to identify hazards and develop strategies to improve resilience to flooding, tornadoes and other weather phenomena.
The help will be provided by state-certified MVP providers, including the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG), which will assess vulnerability and develop strategies using statewide climate projections and data. Communities that complete this assessment will be designated at MVP communities, which may help these communities in applying for additional grants.
“This program will help communities understand their vulnerabilities and risks, but also the strengths they already have that make them resilient,” said Beaton. He said the program will include the use of a climate change website, to help coordinate statewide efforts.
State Sen. Adam Hinds said, “Towns are still grappling with the impact of Irene. The impact of climate change is real. You just need to go down the road to Conway, where we saw the first February tornado ever in Massachusetts.”
State Rep. Stephen Kulik said Buckland “is sort of the poster child for Irene and of what can happen in a small town from a storm of historic proportion.”
“This program I’m very enthused about,” said Kulik. He said it builds on Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito’s municipal compact work.
“It’s an administration that is committed to dealing with climate change,” Kulik added.