Municipal Preparedness Vulnerability (MVP) 2.0 Core Team

UPDATE:

Window Insert Pilot Program: The Montague MVP 2.0 Core Team selected the Window Insert Pilot Program as the program's seed project! The Town is now offering free custom Winserts to income-eligible households across all five villages. Winserts are reusable, transparent interior window inserts that reduce heat loss by up to 50% and significantly cut drafts. They fit snugly inside existing window frames without causing any damage and can be easily placed or removed. Supply is limited. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. To learn more and to apply, click HERE!

OVERVIEW:

The MVP 2.0 program is a grant program run by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It funds communities throughout Massachusetts to identify climate vulnerabilities and invest in resilience. The MVP 2.0 program expands on the work communities have done to date and supports communities with new methods, tools, and resources for building climate resilience. In particular, MVP 2.0 is a way for the community to revisit resilience priorities with a focus on equity and translate those priorities into action through project development and implementation.

TEAM:

The MVP 2.0 project team (MVP 2.0 Core Team) includes residents, liaisons from community organizations such as the Brick House Community Resource Center and HeartWing Center (formerly known as Montague Catholic Social Ministries), Town of Montague Staff, and Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) staff.

Municipal Members	Community Liaison Members	Project Staff
Maureen Pollock, Montague Planning Director	Dennis Gemme	Maureen Pollock, Montague Planning Director
Roberta Potter, Gill-Montague Council on Aging Director	Jayden Hosmer	Tamsin Flanders, FRCOG Senior Land Use and Natural Resources Planner
Ryan Paxton, Montague Public Health Director	Jenna Weld	Rachel Stoler, FRCOG Community Health Program Manager/ Partnership for Youth & Communities That Care
Chris Nolan, Montague Assistant Town Administrator	Jimena De Pareja
	Jose Olvera-Aguilera
	Tom Taaffe, Executive Director, Brick House Community Resource Center
	Amanda Marek

COMMUNITY ENGAGMENT:

Through community engagement and public outreach efforts, the MVP 2.0 Core Team solicited feedback from residents with life circumstances that may experience increased overall vulnerability, to better understand the experiences of social vulnerability and resilience in Montague — such as older residents and youth, renters, unhoused residents, low-income residents, households that speak a language other than English at home, residents of color, residents with experience of substance abuse issues, LGBTQ residents, residents with a disability, caretakers and neurodivergent residents.

Community engagement and public outreach efforts provided, include:

Survey:

A survey was offered in English and Spanish, and was provided online and in print. Printed surveys were provided at the Montague Town Hall, Carnegie Public Library, Millers Falls Library, Montague Center Library, and at the Montague Senior Center. Click here to review the Montague Social Resilience Survey Results.

Focus Groups:

The MVP 2.0 Core Team held two focus groups, including: June 26, 2024 Focus Group with Spanish-speaking residents and on July, 18, 2024 Focus group with youth. Through MVP grant funding, participants of focus groups were provided a $25 gift card as an appreciation for their time.

Interviews:

MVP 2.0 Core Team members held one-on-one interviews with residents who identify with life circumstances that may increase overall vulnerability. Through MVP grant funding, participants of interviews were provided a $25 gift card as an appreciation for their time.

MVP 2.0 Core Team explore public transit options!

After discussing various FRTA public transit options offered, and hearing residents’ lived experiences taking public transit via MVP 2.0 surveys, focus groups, and interviews, the core team decided that they wanted to take public transit as a group and to reflect on their experience. On August 28, 2025, Core Team members took public transit from Montague to/from the John W. Olver Transit Center located in Greenfield for a Core Team meeting and for a tour of the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) office. Click here to read Core Team reflections.

Community Meetings:

The MVP 2.0 Core Team hosted two community events to hear from residents about their highest priorities for them in getting support from the Town of Montague for preparing for/adapting to the long term stressors of climate change, including how to build social resilience. Food, childcare services, and raffle prizes were provided at each event.

October 8, 2024 Community event (in Engllish) at the Shea Theater Arts Center. Click here for event flyer.
October 24, 2024 Community event (En español) at the HeartWing Center f/k/a MCSM. Click here for event flyer.

RESILIENCE PRIORITIES:

Based on resident feedback provided through surveys, focus groups, interviews, and community meetings, the Montague MVP 2.0 Core Team have identified the following resilience priorities in Montague:

More housing options for low-income residents
Support for older and low-income homeowners with repairs, weatherization, and energy efficiency
Better access to healthy food, including fruits and vegetables
Improved water/wastewater infrastructure to be able to withstand stronger storms
Improved housing conditions and costs for renters
Improved transportation infrastructure (e.g., bridges, culverts, flooding or erosion issues) to withstand stronger storms
Support for outdoor workers facing difficult weather-related working conditions
Support for more programs for youth that support skill building and socializing
More bus access in the form of routes, stops, expanded schedules, and accessibility
A larger space and more services provided by the Senior Center
Improved emergency shelters and warming/cooling centers (e.g. emergency backup power; better cooling capacity)
Improved emergency communications capacity, especially between Town and vulnerable populations such as older, low-income, and Spanish-speaking residents (e.g., communications plan, multiple modes of communication, languages)
A place to gather for information and resources for unhoused residents
Improved income stability for those who are currently seasonal workers (e.g. farmworkers, landscapers)
Improvement of parks and/or trails so they can be more easily used by all during hot weather and when it is dark out
Centralized information about community events and community and regional resources

SEED PROJECT:

4/28/2025 - Montague’s MVP 2.0 Core Team is pleased to announce that the Window Insert Community Build project has been selected as the climate-resilience “seed” project to help strengthen our community against the effects of climate change. With approval from our grantors - MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program, Montague will allocate $50,000 to execute this 12-month resilience project.

The decision was made after careful consideration of several key factors, including public support for the project and its alignment with the resilience priorities identified in the MVP 2.0 process. The Core Team evaluated the project against criteria provided by the MVP Program, ensuring that it meets the necessary standards to significantly benefit our community and address vulnerability concerns effectively.

The selected Window Insert Community Build project aims to promote energy efficiency and comfort in homes of low-income homeowners and tenants, while simultaneously reducing our carbon footprint.

It serves as a practical solution that empowers community members to take part in climate adaptation efforts, making Montague a leader in sustainability.

We extend our gratitude to all community members who voiced their support and contributed to the project proposal. Your enthusiasm and engagement were instrumental in this selection, and we look forward to collaborating with you throughout the project's implementation. For more information about the Window Insert Pilot Program, click HERE!

PRESS:

RESOURCES AND TOOLS:

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS:

For questions/comments, please contact Maureen Pollock, Director of Planning & Conservation at mpollock@montague-ma.gov or (413) 863-3200 x 112