The EOPSS Office of Grants and Research (OGR) is pleased to make available several funding opportunities for local municipalities/police departments and nonprofits to competitively solicit funding to address security protection, prevention, intervention, and suppression programming needs.

Listed and detailed below are current funding opportunities available with the appropriate deadlines and links for more information.

We are reaching out to remind you the Sumner Tunnel restoration project moves into its next phase with weekend closures resuming Friday night, September 15. The tunnel will be closed at approximately 11 p.m. Friday night and will reopen to traffic no later than 5 a.m. Monday, September 18.

This is the first of eight planned weekend closures for the remainder of 2023. Closures have also been scheduled for the following weekends: September 22, September 29, October 20, October 27, November 3, and November 10. The date for the 8^th planned closure hasn’t yet been determined.

These closures are the next phase of a project that began in April of 2022 and will continue to work on the tunnel ceiling, roadway, walls, lighting, and additional improvements which will increase safety and climate resiliency.

Additional information can be found on mass.gov/sumner-tunnel.

Great to meet the Joint Committee for Children's Health Care in Everett Executive Director Elvira Pinjic and her team yesterday! 

I look forward to working with you all for the youth of the community. 

You can locate JCCHCE at Everett City Hall 484 Broadway; ROOM 2 Lower Level.

or visit their website https://jcchce.org/

DCR Will Waive Parking Fees at All State Parks to Welcome the Girl Scouts  

Mass Cultural Council has launched the FY24 Local Cultural Council grant program. Local Cultural Council (LCC) Grants are now available to apply for in every city and town in the Commonwealth. These resources contribute funds to approximately 8,000 public projects annually, including everything from field trips to lectures, festivals, and dance and live music performances. Mass Cultural Council allocations to LCCs range from $5,500-$297,200, based on a formula that reflects state aid to municipalities. Funding is allocated by the state legislature in the annual budget.

The Health Connector and MassHealth are hosting a free webinar, Keeping or Getting Coverage through MassHealth and the Health Connector in Spanish on Wednesday, August 30th at 4:00 p.m.  Health Connector Navigators will be presenting on topics such as, how members renew MassHealth coverage, accessing an online account and reporting changes, and getting help with completing renewal or enrolling in Health Connector coverage.

DCR Recreational Advisory: DCR Wading Pools and Many Spray Decks Remain Open Through Labor Day 

WHAT:          Following the closure of swimming pools managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) for the summer season on Sunday, August 20, 2023, agency-managed wading pools will remain open through Labor Day Weekend (Monday, September 4, 2023), and many spray decks will remain open through Sunday, September 17, 2023.  

For more information, please visit the agency’s swimming webpage and visit the DCR park alerts page for the most up to date information on park and waterfront closures.  

WHERE:       DCR-managed wading pools and spray decks  

WHEN:          DCR wading pools to close Monday, September 4, 2023 

DCR spray decks to close Sunday, September 17, 2023 

Starting on Thursday, September 7th the Massachusetts Broadband Institute will begin holding a series of public listening sessions around the Commonwealth as part of a Statewide Broadband and Digital Equity planning process during the national Internet for All effort.

Listening sessions are 1.5-to-2-hour events, accessible either in-person or remotely, designed to hear directly from residents and ensure their unique needs are elevated in the State’s Broadband and Digital Equity strategic plans.

The following is a list of upcoming listening sessions with links for registration. This does not represent the total number of sessions to be held as others are still being planned and scheduled.

Upcoming Digital Equity Listening Sessions

The Commonwealth is set to receive a generational investment in connectivity, it is crucial to bring as many voices as possible to the table to inform the plans and ensure Internet for All.