Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission

Yesterday, CMRPC staff attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of the Blackstone section of the Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT)! This $14 million project, funded by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, was completed one year ahead of schedule. It adds a half-mile segment to the Blackstone River Greenway, extending DCR's 3.7 mile segment, from the Saint Paul Street Bridge in Blackstone to the Rhode Island border. This new section is a vital link in the planned 50-mile greenway, which will feature a paved, shared-use path connecting Providence, Rhode Island, to Worcester, Massachusetts. Mary Bulso, Blackstone Select Board Member and CMRPC Commissioner spoke about the vibrant history of the railroad system in Blackstone, and drew a parallel to how Blackstone will now be the key for the interstate trail network. Learn more about the project by visiting the State's website: https://lnkd.in/e-MyHgaF #trails?#centralmass?#blackstone?#blackstonevalley?#regionalplanning

The latest edition of CMRPC's monthly newsletter was just released! Learn more about what we are up to: https://conta.cc/3CCwBrI

Last Thursday, several CMRPC staff were in the Town of Douglas for the first Master Plan Community Workshop! It was a fun and engaging evening filled with great conversations, creative ideas, and lots of pride for Douglas. Thank you to the Master Plan Steering Committee, Town officials, and the residents who participated! Learn more about our Comprehensive Planning services on our website: https://lnkd.in/e3xJZrUr #douglasma #centralmass #regionalplanning #communityengagement #comprehensiveplanning #masterplan

Congratulations to CMRPC Principal Planner, Sarah O'Brien, AICP for being awarded the American Planning Association Massachusetts Chapter (APA-MA) 2024 Emerging Planner Award! This prestigious State-level award is made annually to one early-career planner who has excelled in leadership and increased the impact of planning in public and/or private decision-making. Sarah was nominated for her efforts in leading the Imagine2050 Regional Plan community engagement campaign, as well as other contributions at CMRPC and the region. Congratulations Sarah! American Planning Association #planning #regionalplanning #communityplanning

CMRPC is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $125,000 Community Planning grant from the Community One Stop for Growth program. This award was announced by the Healey-Driscoll Administration in October. The funding will be instrumental in addressing the economic, educational, social, civic, and recreational barriers created by the construction of Interstate 290 (I-290) in Worcester, specifically the Vernon Street interchange. This grant will complement an already committed $625,000 from Federal and MassDOT funds, resulting in a total investment of $750,000 for this important planning initiative. The project aims to engage the community in a comprehensive transportation and land use planning process to mitigate the significant divide caused by I-290. Over the next 18 months, CMRPC will collaborate with MassDOT and the City of Worcester, to hire a consultant who will guide the planning activities. The study will include five key tasks: establishing project goals, collecting existing data, evaluating issues and opportunities, developing alternatives, and finalizing recommendations. Community engagement will be a cornerstone of the planning process. CMRPC is dedicated to working alongside communities and with residents most affected by land use and transportation policies, ensuring that the study reflects their needs and aspirations. View the full announcement on our website: https://lnkd.in/es77MjB4 #transportationjustice #transportation #mobility #centralmass #worcester #regionalplanning #cmrpc

A great group of rural health folks and really informative workshops at this week's New England Rural Health Association conference. It was especially encouraging to hear about forward-looking and potentially transformative care and programming after the events earlier in the week.

Today, several staff from CMRPC's Regional Collaboration & Community Planning department participated in the first day of the Southern New England American Planning Association (SNEAPA) Conference. The SNEAPA Conference draws more than 500 planners, engineers, architects, students, and other professionals to share experiences, collaborate, network, and earn maintenance credits for AICP certification. CMRPC is proud to provide professional development and networking opportunities for our planners! Learn more about the SPEAPA Conference: https://www.sneapa.org/ American Planning Association Massachusetts Chapter

Join us for a conversation about the MicroProjects funding program and how your municipality may benefit. The CMMPO MicroProjects Program is the Central Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization (CMMPO) funding program for capital purchases that support first and last-mile connections, such as micromobility projects, bicycle parking and storage, mapping, wayfinding, education, and access enhancements to public transportation. This Program is available only for the CMMPO’s 40-member communities in Southern Worcester County. Join us virtually on November 7th at 10:00 a.m. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gJ2bjMiP

Congratulations to the City of Worcester and the Town of Charlton for receiving funds to expand internet access and provide enhanced digital skills training for their residents! CMRPC is proud to have been involved with the creation of Worcester and Charlton's digital equity reports, which initiated these grant awards. The Worcester Public Library (WPL) will receive $100,000 to bridge the digital divide by increasing the supply of hot spots, providing free computer classes in both English and Spanish, and convening a Regional Digital Equity Coalition. WPL will also partner with the nonprofit Tech Goes Home to provide devices to learners and certify staff members in their digital literacy training model. The Town of Charlton will receive $84,990.87 to hire a Digital Inclusion Aide to support digital literacy, accessibility and navigating internet services. The town will train the Aide and provide classes and devices to residents. Charlton will also expand the Charlton Public Library’s supply of devices to support residents without access to the internet at home. Thank you to the Healey-Driscoll Administration, Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED), and the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at MassTech.

CMRPC is happy to announce the release of Healthy Quaboag's Food Systems database: https://lnkd.in/eeqs5WB5 This resource was developed as a component of the Quaboag Valley Food Policy Council’s upcoming Community Food Assessment. This tool allows local governments, businesses, nonprofits, and community members to visualize key data about the Quaboag region’s food system, from production to consumption. Contact Sam Carter, [email protected] if you have questions about the dashboard! #foodsystems #regionalplanning #centralmass #quaboag