Technical Assistance Program (TAP)

The most competitive concepts will align with MetroCommon2050 and state goals. MAPC also prioritizes projects that implement local plans and policies, when possible.

MetroCommon2050 is a plan that aims to better the lives of the people who live and work in Metropolitan Boston between now and 2050. MetroCommon2050 is more than a land use plan with maps and charts. It includes a detailed vision for the future; specific goals and objectives to assess whether the region is moving in that direction; and detailed implementation strategies that will serve as a roadmap for policy, advocacy, planning, and development decisions. It is based on an understanding that Metro Boston is an interconnected system: regional trends shape local conditions, and every local decision has a broader impact on our regional well-being.

The MetroCommon2050 Regional Plan consists of 10 goals, and your concept will likely align with at least one or more of the goals and objectives in the plan.

MAPC adopted a five-year strategic plan in October 2014 and is currently in the process of updating its current plan. Project concepts that advance one of more of the four strategic priorities will be given special consideration.

1. Encourage development and preservation consistent with smart growth principles, focusing on these three elements

• Expanding the supply of housing, with an emphasis on multi-family housing, smaller single-family homes, and homes that are affordable to a wide range of incomes
• Promoting innovative transportation strategies, including congestion mitigation, shared and appropriately-priced parking, streets that work for all users, and transit solutions for both cities and suburbs
• Encouraging both residential and economic development that is oriented to take advantage of its proximity to existing or planned subway and light rail stops, commuter rail stations, and key bus stops (transit-oriented development)

2. Partner with our cities and towns to promote regional collaboration, enhance effectiveness, and increase efficiency

3. Play a leading role in helping the region to achieve greater equity

4. Help the region reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the physical, environmental, and social impacts of climate change and natural hazards.

No, you do not need to specify the funding source in your request for technical assistance. MAPC will help determine the best funding source(s) for each project, based on project concept ideas, the timetable, and the criteria of the funding sources that are best suited to fund the work.

Approved projects include those in which the community needs only a small amount of assistance to achieve the implementation of a local regulatory change (which may take less than 150 hours of technical assistance) to larger multi-community projects that require hundreds of hours of community outreach and engagement, coordination, research, plan-writing, and bylaw/ordinance drafting. Most projects funded solely by TAP range from $25,000 - $60,000. Projects approved with larger budgets are made possible through a combination of funding sources that often includes grant funding and municipal contributions.

The District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) Program is 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. Furthermore, MAPC provides a ten percent match to each DLTA project. 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 DLTA funding priorities are established annually by the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA) in concert with the current Administration. 

In calendar year 2016, the DLTA contract directed RPAs to allocate DLTA funds between two general categories: 1) “Planning Ahead for Housing” (or to help reach the Statewide Housing Production Goal) or “Planning Ahead for Growth” and 2) Community Compact Activities. At least 30% of DLTA funding was allocated to projects advancing these state goals. The state also asked RPAs to both encourage communities to enter into Community Compacts with the state, and also to use at least 30% of our DLTA funds to assist communities in implementing state priorities, including the Community Compact Cabinet Best Practices that are within our expertise. More information on the DLTA program can be found on the General Court of Massachusetts’ website: https://malegislature.gov/laws/generallaws/parti/titleiii/chapter29/section2xxx  

The Planning for MetroCommon 2050 Technical Assistance (PMTA) Program is administered by MAPC and 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 MetroCommon2050 regional plan, and the priorities identified in the MAPC Strategic Plan. PMTA projects run through the fiscal year (July – June). It is funded by municipal assessments. As of September 2016, MAPC's PMTA resources are enhanced through a grant from the Barr Foundation. The PMTA program can be coupled with the DLTA program throughout the year.  

The PMTA grant is focused on advancing equitable transit-oriented development (e-TOD), climate adaptation planning, and policy education and research focused on advancing a sustainable, climate-friendly region. MAPC is actively looking to create a pipeline of projects, particularly in the area of e-TOD. Elements could include any of the following activities: visioning, zoning recommendations, drafting zoning language, market analysis, buildout analysis, housing plans, preventing displacement, multimodal recommendations, parking analyses, public health implications, and more. 

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. 

As of September 2016, the Community Compact Cabinet is administering three grant programs. The Best Practices Program; the Efficiency & Regionalization Grant Program; and the Information Technology Grant Program. The Best Practices Program has outlined several practice areas, including education; energy and environment; financial management; housing and economic development; human resources; information technology; public accessibility; public safety; regionalization/shared services; and transportation/public works. MAPC is available to consult with municipalities that are considering signing on to the Community Compact Cabinet and which are in the process of identifying CCC best practices. MAPC TAP funding may be available to augment CCC-funded project work that aligns with our areas of expertise. View the full list of CCC Best Practices here. 

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 fundraising - in addition to municipal fee-for-service contributions, in-kind resources from municipalities and partners, and local, state, and federal grant funding - to enable staff to provide technical assistance to municipalities on a variety of planning, procurement, and shared services projects.