Cooperative Agreement 00A01506

This Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 under the Geographic Programs - Southeast New England Coastal Watershed Restoration Program (CFDA 66.129) provides $299,926 in funding to the Massachusetts Audubon Society to conduct planning, outreach, and capacity building activities in Worcester, Massachusetts. The primary objectives are to: 1) support community engagement for restoration at Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary and implementation of green infrastructure stormwater interventions; 2) assess and model green infrastructure best practices and land-use policies to reduce flooding in the Upper Brook Watershed; and 3) build the organization's capacity to engage disadvantaged communities in Worcester, gather resident and stakeholder input, and develop a collective vision for green open spaces that increase climate resilience. This award will fund planning efforts to address flooding predicted to worsen due to climate change, a key priority for the City of Worcester, while also launching the Massachusetts Audubon Society's statewide "Nature in the City" initiative to co-create approaches that improve access to nature, water quality, and community resilience in urban settings.