MAPC
Smart Growth and Regional Collaboration
Technical Assistance Program (TAP)
The MAPC Technical Assistance Program (TAP) is a funding program that enables and assists municipalities in implementing projects that are beneficial to the community. Municipalities are invited to submit project concepts for work to be undertaken by MAPC through our Technical Assistance Program (TAP).
Submit an Application
MAPC is currently soliciting ideas for projects that will commence in the winter and spring of 2021.
Although there is no specific deadline for the submission of project concepts, MAPC strongly encourages that proposals be submitted by March 19, 2021. Proposals submitted after that date will be considered if technical assistance funding is still available.
Read the most recent Winter/Spring 2021 Call for Project Concepts
Criteria for Project Selection
TAP can fund a diverse range of projects. Municipalities can submit concepts for individual community-specific projects and for multi-community projects. Projects that promote regional collaboration and serve multiple communities, advance racial equity in the region, and/or promote COVID recovery will receive preference.
At MAPC we try our best to fund as many projects that are in accordance with the guidelines as possible through our technical assistance resources or state grant programs.
Eligible projects cover a wide variety of topics, including but not limited to: housing, economic development, shared services, municipal effectiveness, public engagement, public safety, public health, climate change, clean energy, equitable transit-oriented development, bicycle/pedestrian mobility, environmental protection, creative placemaking, and arts and culture planning. Preference is given to projects that serve two or more communities.
Questions?
Contact Ralph Willmer at rwillmer@mapc.org if you have questions about the application process and the status of your submittal. Feel free to reach out to the subregional coordinator serving your municipality or MAPC department and division managers and directors to discuss a potential project.
Technical assistance program (TAP)
Funding Priorities
MAPC sees our Technical Assistance Program as a means to help cities, towns, and the Commonwealth to implement local, regional, and state goals. Generally speaking, we give preference to projects that advance the regional land use and policy plan, MetroFuture: Making a Greater Boston Region and the planning priorities identified in the agency’s current Strategic Plan. We also give preference to projects that align with the state priorities.
TAP Funding Sources
The District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) Program funded annually by the Legislature and the Governor through a state appropriation. The program is administered by each of the state’s 13 Regional Planning Agencies (RPAs), which together cover the Commonwealth’s 351 cities and towns. Beginning in 2016, MAPC partnered with the Baker Administration to give a portion of funds towards projects aligning with Community Compact Best Practices. DLTA projects run through the calendar year (January – December).
The Planning for MetroFuture Technical Assistance (PMTA) Program administered by MAPC and is funded by municipal assessments. It serves the 101 cities and towns in our region and aims to advance the implementation of projects that align with the goals and objectives in the MetroFuture regional plan and the priorities identified in the MAPC Strategic Plan. PMTA projects run through the fiscal year (July – June).
The Community Compact Cabinet (CCC)* is made possible through the Baker’s Administration’s Best Practices Program, the Efficiency and Regionalization Grant Program, and the Information Technology Grant Program. This program reflects the Baker Administration’s partnerships with cities and towns. The Cabinet gages municipal interests across all executive secretariats and agencies to develop mutual standards and best practices for both the state and municipalities. *Cities and towns apply directly to the Baker Administration for CCC funding and can engage MAPC as a technical assistance provider.
The Barr Foundation has provided generous funding and support in several project areas, including arts and culture, equitable transit-oriented development (E-TOD), mobility, and climate adaptation.
MAPC utilizes all of these sources of funding and actively fund raise - in addition to municipal fee-for-service contributions, in-kind resources from municipalities and partners, and grant funding - to enable our staff to provide technical assistance to municipalities on a variety of planning, procurement, and shared services projects.
TAP Projects
District Local Technical Assistance Program:
Funded Projects
A selection of recently funded projects is provided below. To view a comprehensive list of projects from a variety of practice areas, browse the DLTA project summary reports that MAPC delivers to the Department of Housing and Community Development on an annual basis.