Technical Assistance Program (TAP)

Technical Assistance Program (TAP) is sponsored by Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). The MAPC Technical Assistance Program (TAP) is a funding program that enables and assists cities and towns in implementing projects that are beneficial to the community. Municipalities are invited to submit project concepts for work to be undertaken by MAPC through the TAP.

MAPC Awards More Than $440k to 31 Local Projects – MAPC Metropolitan Area Planning Council Awards More Than $440k to 31 Local Projects Arlington, Ashland, Boxborough, Cambridge, Chelsea, Danvers, Dedham, Everett, Framingham, Gloucester, Hopkinton, Hull, Littleton, Lynn, Malden, Marblehead, Melrose, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, Randolph, Revere, Rockland, Salem, Somerville, Watertown, and Weymouth receive technical assistance to advance strategic regional priorities.

March 19, 2025 - BOSTON - Thirty-one municipal and regional projects in the Greater Boston region will soon be able to leverage more than $440,000 to advance regional priorities in housing production, climate resilience, economic development, and culture thanks to the latest round of technical assistance funding from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC).

MAPC, one of 13 regional planning agencies (RPAs) in the state, offers technical assistance grants each year that help advance the goals identified in Greater Boston’s regional land use and policy plan, MetroCommon2050 .

All 101 cities and towns in the MAPC region are encouraged each year to apply for the Technical Assistance Program (TAP), which helps municipalities take on critical work that they do not have the capacity to address on their own. Many Massachusetts communities have limited professional planning capacity to help shape their future economic development, transportation, housing, green spaces, and municipal facilities.

RPAs help with these essential tasks – everything from updating stormwater guidelines and managing data to preparing economic development plans. The TAP and most of RPAs’ work is primarily funded through District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) – dollars the Legislature and Governor appropriate annually and are distributed to all RPAs, including MAPC.

“A larger portion of this year’s TAP grants support projects that cross municipal lines. We are very glad to see that the critical DLTA funding from Beacon Hill is being used to take action on long-term regional goals and bring communities together across municipal lines,” said MAPC Executive Director Marc Draisen.

The initial set of TAP-funded projects for FY25 supports cities and towns collaborating to advance program priorities and regional goals.

$176,500 toward breaking down barriers to housing, increasing economic mobility and positive health outcomes, emergency preparedness, and public safety: Ashland - Community Resiliency Hub Plan Boxborough - Economic Development Plan Cambridge - Furthering Inclusive Environments Dedham - Implementation of Health and Humans Service structure Everett - Housing Production Plan Implementation Hopkinton - Economic Development Plan Lynn - Implementation of Community Health Initiatives Randolph - Community Wellness Project Revere – Economic Feasibility Analysis and Inclusionary Zoning Rockland - Housing Production Plan & Open Space and Recreation Plan Salem - Jefferson Avenue Corridor Study Somerville - Community Food Assessment and Action Plan Somerville - Fair Housing Engagement Weymouth - Dwyer Mountain Ch 40R Plan $170,000 toward multiple communities working together to better understand and address shared challenges: MAGIC Subregion – Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Roundtable SWAP Subregion – Regional Housing Strategy Marblehead, Littleton, Danvers - ADU Bylaw Updates Natick, Framingham, Ashland - Metrowest Climate Equity Outreach Hull, Scituate, Hingham, Cohasset, and Norwell - Multi-Community Resilience and Recovery Project Gloucester, NSTF Subregion - North Shore Emergency Preparation and Sustainability Conference Arlington, Watertown, Malden - Community Engagement Foundations MAPC Region - DEI Coalition Chelsea, Revere - North Suffolk Schools Zero Carbon Action Strategy MAPC Region – Metro Mayors Climate Task Force and Housing Task Force $95,000 toward projects that advance additional MetroCommon2050 goals: Gloucester - Digital Equity Public Wifi Feasibility Study Malden – Climate Action Plan Implementation Needham - Municipal Parking Lot Solar Canopy Resource Guide Somerville - Cultural Trust Establishment Technical assistance is also funded through annual assessments from MAPC’s member municipalities, grants from private foundations, leveraged grants from state programs, and fee-for-service contributions from cities and towns.

TAP applications are accepted on a rolling basis and additional awards may be announced later in the year. “With the current uncertainty in funding sources that municipalities typically rely upon, TAP is a vehicle to continue the important work planners and municipal staff are advancing across our region,” said Gloria Huangpu, community engagement planner and TAP coordinator.

“This funding equips MAPC and our member municipalities to collaborate and create a more equitable, sustainable, and livable region. ” Senior Communications Specialist