North Andover Awarded $35,000 Municipal Vulnerability Prep Grant

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — The town of North Andover was awarded a $35,000 state grant as part of the "municipal vulnerability planning" program, the state announced Wednesday. The $11.6 million in grants the Governor Charlie Baker administration announced provide "funding and technical support to identify climate hazards, develop strategies to improve resilience, and implement priority actions to adapt to climate change." North Andover's grant is for planning, rather than a specific project.

“Our administration is committed to working with local communities to build long-term resilience for critical infrastructure and ensure they have the resources they need to prepare for the challenge of climate change,” Baker said in a statement. “The MVP program is providing a glimpse at the monumental scale of this challenge, which is why I filed the ResilientMA legislation, which would provide a new and sustained funding source for climate resilience projects.”

Once North Andover completes the MVP planning process, it will be eligible for action grants. The vast majority of grants awarded Wednesday, over $10 million, were for action grants.

The MVP program was created in 2017 by executive order. The latest set of grants brings participation up to 82 percent of Massachusetts cities and towns.

“The MVP Program pairs local leadership and knowledge with a significant investment of resources and funding from the Administration to address ongoing climate change impacts like sea level rise, inland flooding, storms, and extreme temperatures,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito in a statement. “We are proud that 82 percent of municipalities across the Commonwealth are partnering with us through this program, and that these awards will ensure all communities across the state can begin making investments in strategies that protect residents and natural resources, and contribute to strong economic growth and innovation throughout the state.”

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.