On behalf of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, I wanted to inform you of a grant opportunity from the Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership. 

The Mosaic Municipal Matching Grant Program will match municipal opioid settlement funds in cities and towns using best practices to end the overdose crisis, such as conducting community outreach and needs assessments and collaborating with others: Apply for a Grant - Municipal Matching Round 3 - Mosaic - RIZE Massachusetts. RIZE, the state’s partner in this effort, will award $2.25 million in matching grants to municipalities across Massachusetts.

Massachusetts communities continue to receive significant resources through national opioid settlements to address the harms of the overdose crisis. Under the Massachusetts State Subdivision Agreement, a portion of these funds is distributed directly to cities and towns for opioid abatement activities, including substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery.

The Mosaic Municipal Matching Grant Program is one tool available to help communities address these challenges. The program provides municipalities with an opportunity to leverage their local opioid settlement funds alongside additional grant resources, technical assistance, and support for partnerships with community-based organizations.

On behalf of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, I am pleased to share that the Executive Office of Health and Human Services has released a Rural Partner Request for Applications to allow eligible entities to apply for funding and other supports from the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). 

The Rural Partner Request for Applications provides one starting point for many of the RHTP funding opportunities. The RFA and more details are available here: https://www.commbuys.com/bso/external/bidDetail.sda?docId=BD-27-1039-EHS01-EHS01-134186&external=true&parentUrl=close.

All applications must be submitted by 5PM ET on October 26, 2026 to [email protected]. Questions regarding this application may be submitted by email to [email protected] until 5PM on October 14, 2026.

For immediate release:   

October 8, 2026   

Advisory: Chelsea, Revere

Nightly Lane Closures on Route 16 (Revere Beach Parkway) Eastbound and Westbound

Lane closures in place Sunday through Thursday, from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., the following morning beginning Wednesday, October 14, through Wednesday, October 21

CHELSEA/REVERE – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing temporary overnight lane closures on Route 16 (Revere Beach Parkway) eastbound and westbound between Everett Avenue and Route 145 (Winthrop Avenue) in the Chelsea and Revere.  These lane closures will be in place Sunday through Thursday, from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., the following morning, beginning Wednesday, October 14, through Wednesday, October 21. These lanes closures are necessary to allow crews to safely and efficiently perform various sections of roadway milling and resurfacing operations. 

This work is being performed under a District-wide resurfacing contract. 

Appropriate signage, law enforcement details, and advanced message boards will be in place to guide drivers through the work area. 

Drivers who are traveling through the area should reduce speed and use caution. 

The schedule for this work is weather dependent and is subject to change without notice. 

For more information on traffic conditions, travelers are encouraged to: 

• Download the Mass511 mobile app or visit www.mass511.com to view live cameras, travel times, real-time traffic conditions, and project information before setting out on the road. Users can subscribe to receive text and email alerts for traffic conditions. 

• Dial 511 and select a route to hear real-time conditions. 

• Follow @MassDOT on X (formerly known as Twitter) to receive regular updates on road and traffic conditions. 

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is pleased to announce that their launching the Access and Accelerate Grant Program, an initiative designed to help early-stage Massachusetts life sciences companies overcome critical commercialization barriers that are difficult to finance through traditional investment or research funding, on Monday, 10/5!

The Access and Accelerate Grant Program provides non-dilutive grants up to $150,000 for targeted projects that reduce commercialization risk, accelerate company growth, and strengthen the Massachusetts life sciences ecosystem. Unlike traditional R&D grants, the program provides funding for specialized expertise and other activities that often fall outside the scope of research grants but are essential for attracting investment and bringing innovations to market. 

Funding will enable companies to strengthen their commercial strategy, navigate regulatory and market access considerations, advance product development, and prepare for investment and strategic partnerships. Through these investments, Access and Accelerate seeks to promote company growth, attract follow-on funding, and cultivate the creation of promising life science technologies across the Commonwealth. 

Applications will be accepted on a quarterly basis, with each cycle focused on a specific area of the life sciences ecosystem. The first application cycle will focus on funding a comprehensive market analysis to ensure eligible medical device startups have a successful path to payor coverage, with applications running from Oct. 5 through Oct. 30, 2026, at 1 p.m. EST.  

National Grid remains committed to delivering energy savings for its customers statewide. During the lead-up to the winter heating season, the company is encouraging customers to act now to get help with winter bills by attending one of the many Customer Assistance events that will take place across Massachusetts during October. At these events, National Grid’s team of Advocates can help customers gain access to bill management options and energy-saving tips that can help manage energy costs throughout the year, as well as the process to apply for support through Home Energy Assistance Programs (HEAP).

Help with Managing Energy Bills:

National Grid is committed to delivering safe and reliable energy to the customers and communities we serve. With colder weather on the horizon, now is an ideal time to explore programs that help manage energy costs, including:

•    Payment assistance; 
•    Budget Plan;
•    The Tiered Discount Rate Program; and 
•    The Arrears Management Program.

Income-eligible Massachusetts customers can apply for HEAP support as of October 1, 2026. National Grid gas and electric customers in Massachusetts can learn more about program eligibility and how to apply for each program at the links below:

• Massachusetts Gas Customers  
  • Learn More
  • Program Eligibility

• Massachusetts Electric Customers  
  • Learn More
  • Program Eligibility

Payment Assistance Bundle Helps Manage Energy Bills:

National Grid ‘s Payment Assistance Bundle, which was launched in mid-2025 to address customer billing concerns, combines three helpful payment solutions which make it easier to manage energy costs and pay down past-due amounts over a 12-month period. The programs included within the Bundle include:

• Deferred Payment Agreement: Spread out past-due balance into future monthly payments.

• Automatic Monthly Payments: Automatically deduct payments from your bank account each month and avoid missing due dates.

• Budget Plan: Break down annual energy costs into balanced monthly payments, making it easier to budget and plan expenses.

Residential customers interested in enrolling in the Payment Assistance Bundle or other Bill Assistance programs can enroll via their ‘My Account’ login or visit ngrid.com/hereforyou to learn more about these programs. Customers can also speak with a Customer Service Specialist by calling (800) 233-5325.

October 2026 Customer Assistance Events across Massachusetts: 

Customers unable to attend an in-person event can view our August 2026 Bill Assistance Webinar hosted by our Advocates, which provided an overview of key customer-focused programs.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is one month away on October 24, giving Massachusetts residents an opportunity to dispose of unwanted and expired medications. Unfortunately, Take Back Day sites don’t accept used sharps, including needles, syringes, and lancets. For residents who use injectable medications at home, knowing where and how to safely dispose of these items is incredibly important.

To help residents navigate this step, MyOldMeds.com offers a dedicated Massachusetts resource page with practical guidance on safe sharps disposal aligned with FDA recommendations and state law. The page features a locator of safe disposal sites, including 125 in Massachusetts, along with information on how to properly store and dispose of used sharps.

MassDEP has opened the Water Quality Monitoring Grant Program for applications.

The Water Quality Monitoring Grants support monitoring water quality in rivers, lakes and ponds, and coastal resources. The water quality data from these efforts will help MassDEP implement program requirements under the federal Clean Water Act. Such efforts include: (1) direct monitoring of rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and estuaries (surface waters) through field and laboratory work; (2) associated capacity-building actions that improve the organization’s ability to monitor surface waters through field and laboratory work; and (3) developing regional and long-term monitoring programs and networks.

• Eligible Entities: non-profit organizations, including watershed groups, lake and pond associations, and federally recognized Tribal nations within the Commonwealth with expertise in conducting surface water quality monitoring.
• Application Deadline: Thursday, October 29, 2026
• Estimated Award Amounts: $10,000 to $50,000 per applicant

Additional information can be found on MassDEP’s website: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/grants-financial-assistance-watersheds-water-quality#water-quality-monitoring-grant-program.

A new grant opportunity from Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership (Mosaic) that can help municipalities in your district maximize their opioid abatement funds.