Project Grant 00A01389

DESCRIPTION:THE AGREEMENT IS FUNDED UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT AND PROVIDES FUNDING TO THE NASHUA RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION FOR THE FITCHBURG GREEN SOLUTIONS PROJECT: NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE IMPACTS PROJECT TO BENEFIT RESIDENTS IN FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS. SPECIFICALLY, THE RECIPIENT WILL PROVIDE EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND TRAINING TO LOCAL RESIDENTS AND IMPLEMENT GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS IN FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS TO ADDRESS OPEN SPACE ACCESS, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, AND HEAT ISLAND ISSUES. THE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO REDUCE STORMWATER RUNOFF, REDUCE COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW (CSO) FREQUENCY, IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, AND PROVIDE CO-BENEFITS SUCH AS INCREASED ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE AND IMPROVED AIR QUALITY.ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS TO IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE AREAS FOR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IMPLEMENTATION AND CONDUCTING ASSESSMENTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY NEEDS DURING SITE SELECTION; DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS SUCH AS RAIN GARDENS, BIOSWALES, AND PERMEABLE PAVEMENT; ACQUIRING NECESSARY PERMITS AND APPROVALS; OVERSEEING PROJECT CONSTRUCTION; MONITORING AND MAINTAINING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE; AND EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROJECT AND REPORTING RESULTS TO STAKEHOLDERS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES.SUBRECIPIENT:SUBAWARD RECIPIENTS FOR THIS PROJECT INCLUDE THE CITY OF FITCHBURG, FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY, AND NEWVUE COMMUNITIES.THE CITY OF FITCHBURG WILL HELP IDENTIFY POTENTIAL PROJECT SITES, SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE ON CITY PROPERTY, CONTRIBUTE TO THE MAINTENANCE OF PROJECTS ON CITY OWNED PROPERTIES, AND LEVERAGE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM STATE FUNDING FOR COMPLIMENTARY PROJECTS TO IMPROVE CLIMATE RESILIENCY. FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY WILL PROVIDE INPUT ON SITE SELECTION, ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AID IN SITE ASSESSMENT AND ANALYSIS, SUPPORT THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION STAGE OF THE PROJECT, AND HELP OBTAIN QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE FEEDBACK FORM THE COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE PROJECT. FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY WILL ALSO DEDICATE FACULTY TIME TO SUPPORT STUDENTS DOING ACADEMIC AND PAID INTERNSHIP POSITIONS TO WORK WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS TO PLAN, IMPLEMENT, AND MONITOR NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN AREAS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CONCERNS. NEWVUE COMMUNITIES WILL CONVENE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO SEEK INPUT ABOUT PRIORITY ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND POTENTIAL GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS, HELP ORGANIZE TRAINED AND INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT, AND HELP ORGANIZE REGULAR SITE MAINTENANCE.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE COORDINATING 3-5 COMMUNITY MEETINGS IN TARGET NEIGHBORHOODS IN FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS TO IDENTIFY ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS FACED IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, IDENTIFYING HIGH RISK SITES THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, AND CUSTOMIZING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE TO PRIORITY SITES. THE PROJECT PLAN OUTLINES A GOAL OF 3-5 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WITHIN THE CITY OF FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS. ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE SELECTING PROJECT SITES AND POSSIBLE PROJECT DESIGNS BASED ON LOCAL TOPOGRAPHY, SOIL TYPE, ISSUES OF CONTAMINATION, AND MORE; RECEIVING APPROVAL FROM THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION, MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ON ACTIVITY AND USE LIMITATIONS, THE FITCHBURG PLANNING BOARD, THE PARKS COMMISSION AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT, AND THE MASSACHUSETTS NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM; A MULTI-PHASE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS; COMPLETING ONGOING MONITORING AND MAINTENANCE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SITES; AND THE DISSEMINATION OF PROJECT OUTCOMES TO INVOLVED PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE INCREASED AMOUNT OF PERMEABLE SURFACE AREA, INCREASED CAPACITY FOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT, INCREASED NUMBER OF TREES AND VEGETA