MVPC met with the region’s Legislative Delegation and Municipal Leaders on February 4th to review and discuss key projects intended to be beneficial for the region during the upcoming year. MVPC’s Transportation Program Manager, Tony Komornick, reviewed transportation projects including the recently awarded infrastructure funding of $225m/year, for the next 4 years, for bridge rebuilding. With the wrap-up of current bridge projects along the 495 corridors and the upcoming Basiliere Bridge project in Haverhill, the funding certainly has a positive impact on existing projects and the future programming of the FY2024-2026 TIP (Transportation Improvement Plan).
MVPC’s GIS Program Manager, Steve Lopez, reported on the agency’s participation in the CSO (Combined Sewage Overflow) Early Alert System that was successfully activated in Newburyport this past summer. Senator DiZoglio, who spearheaded this project with the formation of the Merrimack River District Commission (MRDC) along with the support of former Newburyport Mayor Donna Holaday, proudly expressed her thanks to MVPC for supporting and taking on this project. She added that this is the first Alert System of its kind state-wide and that other regions are now looking at the MVPC region as a model. She also noted that Congresswoman Lori Trahan recently announced that additional funding was approved to support the program.
Community & Economic Development Program Manager, Nate Robertson, announced that Merrimack Valley Economic Development Corporation (MVED) was recently designated a Regional Economic Development Organization by the MA Office of Business Development. MVPC is proud to provide staff support for MVED and sees this as an opportunity to further the agency’s economic development work in the region.
In the area of economic recovery and resilience, MVPC’s WeAreMV program has helped 107 small businesses by pairing the business with business advisors and financial consultants. Of the 107 businesses, 57% are a combination of women-owned, Latino, and Spanish-speaking businesses.
Mr. Robertson also highlighted the well-known DLTA (District Local Technical Assistance) program used for planning Housing and Economic Growth in the region. He noted that the Merrimack Valley is the only region with 100% of the Housing Production Plans that are current and that later this spring, MVPC plans to apply for funding to update and revitalize these plans on behalf of MVPC Cities and Towns.
Senator Tarr expressed his thanks to MVPC for what the agency does including activities in the Great Marsh led by MVPC’s Coastal Coordinator, Peter Phippen, adding that because of these efforts the Northeast is the leader on Climate Resiliency, and did not exist before the partnership between the Great Marsh and MVPC. Other parts of the country are now looking at the data from the MVPC projects.
There was much discussion on the upcoming MBTA program among the community leaders and the legislators with much concern with the program guidelines and how it impacts the region’s smaller communities. Secretary Kennealy and the EOHED team have scheduled an MBTA Communities webinar for the MVPC region on February 24.
Thank you to all our municipal leaders and the region’s Legislative Delegation for taking the time out of their day to discuss regional priorities.
Click here for the Regional Roundtable Presentation
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