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Building a Cool Culture in the Lower Mystic: The Summer 2026 Cool Communications Campaign

Massachusetts residents are no strangers to inclement weather conditions – preparing for winter weather is part of our culture. Extreme heat, however, is a newer public health threat in Massachusetts, […]

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Cooling our Homes & Buildings

While outdoor heat matters, people also experience high temperatures in their homes, schools, and workplaces. In fact, most heat-related deaths occur in people’s homes. Massachusetts buildings were historically designed to […]

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Cooling our Blocks

Cooling does not only happen on the individual or building scale – it can also be done on the neighborhood scale through proactive land use choices. Shade, plant life, reflective […]

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Cool Communities

Community plays a major – and possibly unsurprising – role in keeping people safe during extreme heat events. Researchers have found that most heat deaths happen at home among people […]

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Cool Communications

Building heat resilience means building effective communication networks, so you can reach people before the next heat wave hits. Awareness of extreme heat, its impacts, and what people and decision-makers […]

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Extreme Heat 101

Over the last couple of decades, heat-related deaths have risen dramatically in the U.S. even though they are largely preventable. Extreme heat can increase the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, […]

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MARPA Gathers for District Local Technical Assistance Day at the State House

March 5, 2026 – Executive directors and staff representing the Commonwealth’s 13 Regional Planning Agencies gathered for a day of advocacy at the State House to brief lawmakers and staff […]

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House Energy Affordability Bill Summary H.5175

House Energy Affordability Bill Summary H.5175 Questions? Contact the MAPC Government Affairs Department: Norman Abbott ([email protected]) and Georgia Barlow ([email protected]) On February 25th, the House Committee on Ways and Means […]

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MMC Regional Housing Task Force – Tracking Progress to 2030 Housing Production Goal

  The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) has released its annual update on permitting activity throughout the Metro Mayors Coalition (MMC), part of the effort to track progress towards the […]

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Update on FY2027 Budget Summary

Update on the FY27 Budget Questions? Contact the MAPC Government Affairs Department: Norman Abbott ([email protected]) and Georgia Barlow ([email protected]) On January 28th, Governor Healey filed her FY27 budget recommendations. The […]

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