2024 MARPA-DLS Conference Highlights Statewide Opportunities, Strengths
October 08, 2024 – Municipal and planning staff from Nantucket to the Berkshires met in Worcester at the College of the Holy Cross for the 2024 Statewide Municipal Partnerships Conference, hosted by the Mass. Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA) and Division of Local Services. Lt Governor Kim Driscoll offered remarks to keynote the conference for the second year in a row.
During her remarks, Lt. Governor Driscoll highlighted the ways that the Administration is planning to partner with municipalities and RPAs to ensure that the Commonwealth can maintain its cutting-edge economic leadership and that municipalities are able to make the most of the tourism potential of America’s 250th celebrations. She also discussed the future of the Municipal Empowerment Act and the Administration’s plan to file a new version of the bill during the next legislative session.
The Lt. Governor said that “Our administration is committed to working closely with our municipalities to address the greatest challenges facing our state — such as high costs, housing and transportation infrastructure. We were proud to partner with many local officials to propose the Municipal Empowerment Act earlier this year, and we look forward to continued collaboration to move forward on delivering the tools and resources our cities and towns need."
The Conference also featured remarks from Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus, Secretary for Administration and Finance Matt Gorzkowicz, Secretary of Technology Services and Security Jason Snyder, and MassDOT Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt.
During a panel discussion moderated by MAPC’s Deputy Executive Director Lizzi Weyant, the secretaries reflected on their accomplishments during the last two years and explored ways their offices could collaborate in the future.
The Conference also included AICP continuing education credit eligible breakout sessions around federal funds, housing, climate resiliency, and economic development. The panels were facilitated by: Eric Shupin, Chief of Policy at the Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities; Ashley Stolba, Undersecretary at Executive Office of Economic Development; Quentin Palfrey, Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure from the Healey-Driscoll administration; and Jeremy Koo, MAPC’s Assistant Director of Clean Energy. Each panel showcased successful and replicable strategies to address everything from vacant storefronts in downtown areas, geothermal pilot projects, making the most of the Direct Pay provision of the Inflation Reduction Act, and even ADU bylaw adoption. Additional information on these presentations and more can be found on the slides included below.
2024 Conference Presentations
Climate Resiliency and Decarbonization
Building a Geothermal Network in Framingham
Simplifying Green Communities & REPA
Office of Energy Transformation
Maximizing Ground-Floor Commercial Occupancy
Challenges and Opportunities in Accessing Federal Dollars
Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office
Green and Resilient Springfield Project