PRESS RELEASE: Town of Concord and Partners Receive $450,000 State Grant for Regional Climate Resilience

October 17, 2025

by Donna McIntosh, Communications Manager, Town of Concord | October 17, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONCORD, MA (Sept. 19, 2025)—The Town of Concord, in partnership with OARS 3 Rivers and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), has been awarded a $450,000 state grant to launch a Regional Climate Collaborative. The two-year initiative will focus on enhancing climate resilience for the entire Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord (SuAsCo) Rivers watershed.

The grant was awarded through the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program, a highly competitive program administered by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). The MVP program supports communities in identifying climate hazards, developing resilience strategies, and implementing priority actions to adapt to climate change. The SuAsCo Climate Collaborative is one of 54 projects to receive action grant funding in this latest round.

“This project is a critical opportunity to strengthen Concord’s resilience, protect our natural resources, and work with neighboring communities on solutions that will benefit the entire region,” said Kerry Lafleur, Town Manager.

This award comes at a crucial time, as communities across the country face historic flooding and extreme weather events that threaten infrastructure, displace residents, and create significant financial burdens. The SuAsCo Climate Collaborative will empower the region to prepare for these risks by:

Building a Unified Regional Framework: Establishing a formal structure for the SuAsCo Climate Collaborative to foster ongoing communication and action across the watershed.
Assessing Vulnerability: Conducting a comprehensive vulnerability assessment of critical infrastructure and natural assets throughout the region to pinpoint areas of greatest risk.
Prioritizing Shared Solutions: Identifying shared regional priorities and data needs to guide future projects and secure additional funding for climate resilience efforts.

The first year of the initiative will focus on laying the groundwork for this collaboration, including stakeholder outreach to municipal and community partners and establishing the Collaborative’s governance framework.

Created in 2017, the MVP program provides funding for community-driven climate resilience planning and action. Ninety-nine percent (349 out of 351) of the Commonwealth’s cities and towns are now participating, with over $210 million awarded for local climate resilience projects since the program’s inception.

For more information or to learn how you can support efforts to restore our rivers, please contact:

Donna McIntosh, Town of Concord’s Communications Manager, at dmcintosh@concordma.gov (978) 318-3014)
Sarah Kwan, OARS’ Director of Advancement, at skwan@oars3rivers.org (978) 369-3956

Don’t want to miss out on getting the scope? Visit OARS’ press page: oars3rivers.org/news-events/press/

River Log

~30%

of the SuAsCo rivers watershed is wetlands, crucial for wildlife habitat and water quality

~30%

of water samples in the SuAsCo rivers watershed contain PFAS, leading to increased monitoring and remediation by local authorities and environmental groups

~70%

of dams in the SuAsCo watershed are over a century old, requiring extensive upkeep and presenting obstacles to river restoration and fish passage

>40%

of the land within the watershed is publicly accessible, offering recreational opportunities such as hiking, boating, and birdwatching to the community

~15%

of the land in the SuAsCo rivers watershed is covered by impervious surfaces such as roads, rooftops, and parking lots. This contributes to stormwater runoff and water pollution issues

>40%

of the land within the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers watershed is publicly accessible, providing endless opportunities for paddling, hiking, and wildlife exploration.

PRESS RELEASE: Town of Concord and Partners Receive $450,000 State Grant for Regional Climate Resilience

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE