Swampscott is conducting a community outreach survey as part of its Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) 2.0 planning effort.
“The survey is intended to help the town better understand how residents receive information and identify opportunities to strengthen community connections and improve access to important services and resources,” Senior Planner Christa McGaha said in an email.
Residents can complete the survey online at tinyurl.com/bddwntm6. Printed copies of the flyer and the survey are also available at the Office of Community and Economic Development.
The MVP grant program was established in 2017 under a state executive order. The program helps communities build resilience to climate impacts such as increased flooding, extreme heat, drought and other severe weather.
The MVP 2.0 planning grant allows municipalities to revisit their MVP 1.0 climate resilience priorities and focus on turning those priorities into action. The program also allows communities to place a greater emphasis on building social resilience and identifying vulnerable populations and areas.
The MVP 2.0 planning process is designed to be completed over two years. Swampscott was awarded $100,000 for the second phase of the grant program in the 2025 fiscal year.
“These grants are crucial because they empower communities to include voices that have often been overlooked in discussions about climate resilience,” Gov. Maura Healey said at the time. “This funding will help ensure that everyone can contribute to and benefit from climate action, making our response to climate change more equitable and effective.”
Martha Schmitt, who chairs the Climate Action and Resilience Committee, previously told the Swampscott Tides that the MVP 2.0 program is “really meant to reach out into the broader community and get input from people who may be more vulnerable and whose voices haven’t been heard before.”
Swampscott officials hope to strengthen neighborhood connections; improve access to community resources; expand communication networks; better support residents before, during, and after emergencies; and build a more resilient community, according to McGaha’s email.
According to the survey, neighborhood resilience coordinators would serve as designated points of contact between residents and the town, welcoming newcomers, building relationships, sharing information and helping community members access resources.
The survey asks residents where they get important information, how often they interact with neighbors, which community groups they belong to and how they define their neighborhood.
Anyone who completes the survey will be entered into a drawing for a free gift card to a local restaurant.
“Swampscott wants to hear your ideas on how we can strengthen community connections, improve communication, and make it easier for residents to access important information, services, and resources,” McGaha wrote.
