Medford Plans Climate Resiliency Upgrades After Securing State Grant

MEDFORD, MA — Medford will use a recent $400,000 state grant to help improve climate resiliency measures, expand city preparedness and increase accessible communication to residents who don’t speak English, Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn announced this week.

The money comes via the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program, which doled out its latest round of funding to Massachusetts communities earlier this year. The program provides money through a variety of means, generally looking to help communities strengthen their capabilities in responding to issues related to climate change.

In Medford, new money will specifically flow to the city’s Medford Connects program, which is looking to expand and strengthen resources for marginalized Medford community members, as noted in this week’s announcement from Lungo-Koehn.

“Equitable access to critical communications and resources is essential to protecting our entire community, especially our most vulnerable,” Lungo-Koehn said. “The MVP funding for Medford Connects will make it possible to better support communities before, during, and after climate emergencies, as well as increase and expand communications, allowing everyone to be included and engaged in these conversations.”

Officials said Medford Connects will aim to foster connections between various community partners.

“We are seeking to create a more equitable and connected Medford for all those who live here and call Medford home, while also preparing our community for climate change,” City Prevention and Outreach Manager Penelope Funaiole said this week.

Next steps, Funaiole said, will involve hiring more community liaisons to join a current team of five liaisons working to “inform community needs and communicate city services.”

Officials this week said state funding through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program will help “revitalize Medford Connects by partnering with city departments and community-based organizations at the forefront of resilient services.”

The program’s focus for the next two years, officials said, will now be on the task of setting up a “virtual resilience hub,” centralizing local services information, formalizing a network of community partners, and setting “the foundation for resilient communications.”