March 24, 2025 - BOSTON - In the past five years of the Accelerating Climate Resilience (ACR) Grant Program, more than $2.6 million has been awarded to implement 56 projects across the region. Now, with generous support from the Barr Foundation, MAPC is proud to launch the next iteration of the ACR Grant Program with expanded eligibility to include applications from non-municipal, community-based entities.

For the first time ever, in addition to the 101 municipalities in the MAPC region, eligible lead applicants also include entities and/or organizations that work in and serve the people of the MAPC region. The organizations are defined as local 501(c)(3) community-based organizations, tribes, and Indigenous communities. Community-based organizations without 501(c)(3) status are encouraged to partner with their municipality to submit an application.

Expression of Interest submissions will be accepted through April 9, and MAPC will host office hours to support interested communities and organizations with their project ideas through April 14. Municipalities and organizations that are interested should complete and submit an Expression of Interest form and schedule a time to meet with the ACR team – this is an opportunity to brainstorm project ideas and learn about how projects can best align with the ACR program priorities before the official application period opens.

“MAPC is thrilled to have been a part of some of the region’s most creative, impactful, and equity-centered projects to date, such as Cambridge’s Shade is Social Justice and Malden’s River Works for Waterfront Equity and Resilience,” said MAPC’s Assistant Director of Environmental Planning Van Du. ”We are also delighted to see many existing and new collaborations among municipalities and their community partners strengthened through implementation of their climate resilience projects.” 

Through the ACR program, MAPC supports municipalities and community partners in the Greater Boston region with implementing strategies that protect people, places, and communities from the impacts of climate change. The grants fund actionable resilience interventions that facilitate long-term, innovative changes leading to greater readiness for climate change. In particular, MAPC seeks to elevate projects that will advance climate equity, regional coordination, and social cohesion. For more information about the program, visit mapc.org/acceleratingresiliency.

ACR grantees also get to participate in the program’s Resilience Community of Practice, a peer-to-peer networking and learning group dedicated to knowledge exchange, as well as technical, value-based, and instructional guidance to aid municipalities in deploying, scaling, and amplifying their climate resilience practices across municipal functions. In tandem with the ACR grant program, MAPC hosts a speaker series about innovations in climate resilience.

The Invitation for Proposals for the next round of Accelerating Climate Resilience grants will be released later this spring. More information will be made available in the coming weeks. For more information and questions about the Accelerating Climate Resilience program, contact MAPC Assistant Director of Environmental Planning Van Du at [email protected].