This week, MassDEP announced the opening of the 2023 Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) Municipal Grant application round. The program supports local recycling, composting/organics, reuse, source reduction, program development, and enforcement activities that increase diversion and reduce disposal.

Funding will be available in a number of categories (listed below).

MassDEP staff will host an informational webinar for applicants on May 10, 2023 (applicants need to register in advance). Grant applications are due by June 14, 2023.

More information on eligibility, grant offerings, and how funds may be used can be found on MassDEP’s SMRP page: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-sustainable-materials-recovery-program-smrp-municipal-grant

• Funding categories:
  • Recycling Dividends Program
  • Regional Small-Scale Initiatives
  • Food Waste Carts
  • Mattress Recycling Containers
  • Pay-As-You-Throw
  • Universal Waste Sheds (fluorescent lamps, batteries, mercury-containing devices)
  • Establishing Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Permanent Facilities

Please be aware of the following update to the business-to-business policy at the RMV Service Centers beginning on May 2, 2023.

BOSTON – To celebrate Earth Week 2023, the Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced that $500,000 in Water Quality Monitoring Grant Program funding has been awarded to five coalitions and four individual non-profit watershed organizations to monitor water quality in rivers, lakes and ponds, and coastal resources across the Commonwealth. The grant program, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), will support waterbody monitoring efforts in eastern Massachusetts, the Connecticut River Valley, Buzzards Bay and Cape Cod, and the Berkshires.

“Some of the most direct impacts of climate change can be observed in Massachusetts waterways,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration has prioritized investing in scientific partnerships to ensure we have the robust data we need to protect our critical water resources.”

The resulting water quality data will help MassDEP to implement program requirements under the federal Clean Water Act. The grant program is available to eligible non-profit organizations, including watershed groups, lake and pond associations, and federally recognized Tribal nations within the Commonwealth with expertise for conducting surface water quality monitoring projects.

“MassDEP has long partnered with regional watershed coalitions and non-profit organizations to maintain the most current assessment of the state of Massachusetts water bodies,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “This collaboration positions the Commonwealth to continue to be a leader in watershed management as we face a changing climate. I applaud the work of these essential stakeholders and the work of our staff to provide these important investments.”

The grant recipients and project awards are:

Organizations: The Neponset River Watershed Association, in partnership with the Charles River Watershed Association, the Center for Student Coastal Research, the Mystic River Watershed Association, the Nashua River Watershed Association, the North/South/MassBays, OARS for the Assabet, Sudbury and Concord Rivers, and Lake Archer Association.

Funding Amount: $90,869

Summary: The coalition will monitor water quality in eastern Massachusetts, which will include two technical training workshops for coalition partners. The funds will help to purchase equipment and supplies and support travel, staff salaries and external laboratory analyses to monitor for bacteria, cyanobacteria, nutrients, chlorophyll, conductivity, and turbidity.

Organizations: The Housatonic Valley Association, in partnership with the Berkshire Environmental Action Team, and the Hoosic River Watershed Association.

Funding Amount: $48,605

Summary: The coalition will conduct water quality monitoring in the Housatonic and Hoosic River watersheds, which will involve refining a data viewer to support data dissemination and outreach. Funds will be used to purchase equipment and supplies and to support staff time and subcontractor work to monitor for temperature, conductivity, E. coli, dissolved oxygen, total nitrogen, and chlorine.

Organizations: The Connecticut River Watershed Council, Inc., d/b/a, the Connecticut River Conservancy, in partnership with the Deerfield River Watershed Association, the Fort River Watershed Association, and the Chicopee4Rivers Watershed Council.

Funding Amount: $66,500

Summary: The coalition will perform water quality monitoring in the Massachusetts portion of the Connecticut River watershed in conjunction with a program to engage with Environmental Justice populations. The funds will purchase equipment and supplies, and support travel and staff salaries to monitor for E. coli and nitrogen.

Organizations: The Center for Coastal Studies, in partnership with the Barnstable Clean Water Coalition, and the Dennis Conservation Land Trust.

Funding Amount: $61,360

Summary: The coalition will monitor water quality in Cape Cod Bay, Nantucket Sound, and their associated aquatic systems, with a focus on impaired waterbodies. The funds will help to purchase equipment and supplies and support staff salaries to conduct water quality monitoring for dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, salinity, plant pigments, turbidity, nutrients, stream discharge, and chlorophyll.

Organizations: The Ipswich River Watershed Association, in partnership with the Parker River Clean Water Association, the Chebacco Lake and Watershed Association, the Friends of Hood Pond, Inc., and the Martins Pond Reclamation Study Committee.

Funding Amount: $55,082

Summary: The coalition will monitor water quality in streams, rivers, and ponds in the Ipswich, Parker, and Essex River watersheds. The funds will purchase equipment and supplies and support travel and staff salaries to monitor for dissolved oxygen, pH, chloride, conductivity, temperature, nutrients, chlorophyll, and bacteria.

Organization: The Deerfield River Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited – Chapter #349.

Funding Amount: $26,007

Summary: The chapter is developing a new, permanent, volunteer-driven water quality monitoring program for the tributaries to the Deerfield River. The funds will purchase equipment to monitor for pH, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, temperature, turbidity, nutrients, and flow.

Organization: The Blackstone River Coalition.

Funding Amount: $23,410

Summary: The coalition will use this partial award to monitor the Blackstone River watershed. Funds will purchase equipment and supplies and support staff salaries to monitor for temperature, dissolved oxygen, water depth, aesthetics, nutrients, total suspended solids, conductivity, bacteria, and stream flow.

Organization: The Farmington River Watershed Association.

Funding Amount: $13,378

Summary: The association will use this partial award to monitor surface waters in the Massachusetts portion of the Farmington River watershed. Funds will purchase equipment and supplies and support staff salaries to monitor for bacteria and chloride.

Organization: The Buzzards Bay Coalition.

Funding Amount: $114,789

Summary: The coalition will use this partial award to continue a recently developed, targeted monitoring program in Buttonwood Brook and Apponagansett Bay. The funds will purchase equipment and supplies and support staff salaries to monitor for discharge, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, temperature, salinity, pH, bacteria, water clarity, and nutrients.

“On Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, impaired estuaries and embayments threaten our ecosystem, livelihood, and way of life. I’m thrilled that Provincetown’s Center for Coastal Studies, in partnership with the Barnstable Clean Water Coalition and the Dennis Conservation Land Trust, have been awarded over $61,000 to support water quality monitoring in Cape Cod Bay, Nantucket Sound, and related water bodies,” said State Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “Successful water quality preservation and mitigation require informed stewardship. These monitoring efforts will help MassDEP implement vital programs to support our aquatic environment.”

“Our constituents and communities deserve clean water,” said State Representative Smitty Pignatelli (D-Lenox). “I'm grateful for MassDEP's continued commitment to helping organizations in the 3^rd Berkshire District collect the information they need to maintain a high standard of water quality and look forward to seeing the continued partnership of The Housatonic Valley Association, the Berkshire Environmental Action Team, and the Hoosic River Watershed Association.”

The $500,000 in available funds will be used to facilitate diverse activities for direct monitoring, capacity-building activities, and actions to develop regional and long-term monitoring programs. The Water Quality Monitoring Grant Program was designed specifically to promote collaboration and to provide tangible benefits for Environmental Justice populations. The program addresses surface water quality protection and restoration through monitoring, outreach, and education. Over the last five years, the Walter Quality Monitoring Grant Program has provided more than $1,150,000 in grants to organizations across the Commonwealth. For more information on MassDEP’s water quality monitoring and assessment programs, please visit the agency’s Watershed Planning Program webpage.

MassDEP’s mission is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth’s natural resources – air, water, and land – to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of all people, and to ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission, MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth; to provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives; and to ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation will offer free and low-cost family-friendly programs during the upcoming April school vacation week.

Today the MBTA announced service information and a special Commuter Rail fare for the day of the 2023 Boston Marathon.

To find the best Marathon viewing location on the T, customers are encouraged to visit the MBTA’s Boston Marathon Guide at mbta.com/Marathon, which highlights MBTA stations closest to the Marathon route and includes helpful information on purchasing fares, parking, and more.

$15 Commuter Rail Marathon Pass:

On April 17, the MBTA will offer a special $15 Marathon Pass valid for all-day, unlimited travel on all Commuter Rail lines through all zones. This special $15 Marathon Pass is available for purchase beginning April 10 through April 17 on the mTicket app and from ticket offices at North, South, and Back Bay Stations. The $15 Marathon Pass is also available aboard trains via cash or credit card on April 17 only. Customers should note that the $15 Marathon Pass cannot be purchased at fare vending machines, and is not valid for subway or bus travel.

MBTA Service Information for the 2023 Boston Marathon:

For public safety reasons, Copley Station is closed for the entire day on April 17. Customers are instead encouraged to use Arlington Station (serving all Green Line branches), Prudential Station (Green Line E branch), Hynes Convention Center Station (Green Line B, C, and D branches), or Back Bay Station on the Orange Line. From approximately 10 AM to 6 PM, above-ground Green Line stops at South Street (B branch), Kent Street (C branch), and St. Mary’s Street (C branch) will be closed.

The Red, Orange, Blue, and Silver Lines will operate a regular weekday schedule on April 17 with additional service before and after the race. Due to speed restrictions in a number of areas along the Red, Orange, Blue, and Green Lines, riders should budget additional travel time and expect some delays in service.

Buses will operate a regular weekday schedule on April 17, though some bus routes will be detoured to accommodate the Marathon and other festivities. Customers are encouraged to subscribe to T-Alerts for more information on these changes.

All Commuter Rail lines will operate a regular weekday schedule on April 17.

All commuter boat and ferry services as well as The RIDE service will operate a regular weekday schedule. The RIDE may be detoured to accommodate the Marathon and related events.

Bicycles are prohibited onboard all MBTA subway vehicles (including folding bicycles) for the entire day on April 17. Backpacks, coolers, cans, bottles, and large items are not permitted at the Marathon.

Parking Information:

Customers planning to park in an MBTA garage or lot on April 17 should allow additional travel time and note that some garages and lots may fill very quickly due to heavy parking demand.

The MBTA today announced that, effective April 15, the MBTA will increase its sign-on bonus to $7,500 for applicants applying to a number of eligible positions throughout the MBTA as part of its aggressive hiring campaign.

The launch of the $75 million small business grant program from the November economic development spending bill. The application for the program is now live and can be accessed here: https://www.empoweringsmallbusiness.org/covid-19-response/inclusive-recovery-grant-program. It will be open until April 28, 2023.

The launch of the $3 million grant program for movie operators later today as well: https://www.empoweringsmallbusiness.org/covid-19-response/independent-movie-theater-grant-program

The Health Connector will continue to hold monthly public webinars. MassHealth will be joining the Health Connector for future webinars to share information and resources with members and stakeholders about the redetermination process.

Act Now, Stay Covered Webinars – Massachusetts Health Connector (mahealthconnector.org)

Title: Keeping or Getting Coverage through MassHealth and the Health Connector

When: Wednesday, April 12, 12:00–1:00 p.m.

Location: Zoom Webinar and/or Conference Call

Description: This session will cover the following:

Why it is important to renew your MassHealth coverage

How to report any changes to your information to MassHealth

How to access your online account and who can access an online account

Where to get help with completing your MassHealth renewal and;

How to get help enrolling into Health Connector coverage

For Registration & more Details: https://malink.co/webinar-041223

Grant Opportunity: Apply by April 25, 2023.

Taking Action to Improve Access and Equity in Opioid Use Disorder Care

This week, RIZE released a request for proposals for Taking Action to Improve Access and Equity in Opioid Use Disorder Care, the second iteration of our grant program, Innovations in Anti-Racism to Address the Opioid Crisis. Through this initiative, RIZE will award up to four grants of up to $100,000 a year for two years to support efforts that lead to measurable improvements in access and equity in opioid use disorder (OUD) care by centering the needs of people who identify as Black, Latine, or Indigenous.  

Awarded grants will fall within one of the following targeted focus areas: 

• Making care more welcoming for Black, Latine, and Indigenous people with OUD. 
• Supporting workforce and organizational capacity to treat, better support, and increase the number of Black, Latine, and Indigenous patients with OUD served. 
• Strengthening linkages to care and care coordination to connect and continuously support Black, Latine, and Indigenous people with OUD as they transition from one point of care to another. 

We invite you to submit your best ideas to measurably increase access and equity in OUD care. Please visit our website for more information or click on the following links for the grant guidelines and fillable PDF application form.

Grant Guideline: https://www.rizema.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Taking-Action-to-Improve-Access-and-Equity-in-Opioid-Use-Disorder-Care-FINAL-Grant-Guidelines-4.pdf

Grant Application and Budget: https://www.rizema.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Taking-Action-Application-and-Budget-Form-03242023.pdf

Submission Dates and Instructions

Questions: 

• Applicants may submit questions about the program or the application process in writing by April 11, 2023. Submit questions to: [email protected]
• RIZE will post answers on our website by April 13, 2023. 

Applications:

All applications must be submitted to RIZE by email by 12:00 PM April 25, 2023, following the grant guidelines, and using the grant application form. Submit applications to: [email protected]