Project Grant 00A01150

The Mystic River Watershed Association, Inc. was awarded a $500,000 Project Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program (CFDA 66.306). The grant funding will support the association's efforts to convene stakeholders, including residents from the highly urbanized cities of Chelsea, Everett, and Malden, to develop resident-led policy, systems, and environmental interventions related to extreme heat. Key activities include establishing a 12-member resident steering committee, hosting 9 community workshops, reaching 1,000 residents through direct outreach, and creating a toolkit for residents and municipalities on heat mitigation strategies. The anticipated outcomes include reduced respiratory incidents and emergency room visits caused by heat, increased resilience to extreme heat, and expanded implementation of cooling interventions in vulnerable neighborhoods. The project involves several sub-recipients, including GreenRoots, Everett Community Growers, Chinese Cultural Connection, and Cambridge Health Alliance, who will contribute expertise and lead engagement efforts in the respective communities.