Page 4 - 2020 MVPC Annual Report
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Amesbury, Andover, Boxford, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Merrimac, Methuen, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Rowley, Salisbury, and
West Newbury
Our Region
Each of the 15 communities Merrimack Valley Plan- “MVPC has really been essential to our ability to move
ning Commission serves has its own unique character, forward,” he said.
challenges, and priorities. However, each also func- Particularly in 2020, when the operations of every
tions as an important piece of a vibrant regional econ- municipality were turned upside down by the COVID-
omy, ecology, and transportation network. 19 pandemic, officials said virtual meetings facilitated
What we heard most often from municipal managers, by MVPC were an important lifeline, allowing member
planners, and staff while preparing this report is how communities to share ideas and assist each other with
important MVPC is to building capacity both in small procuring PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), how
towns with few or no staffers with professional exper- to conduct business virtually, and other considera-
tise in engineering and planning and in larger cities tions.
that are under-resourced and need extra assistance. In some cases, these meetings led to broader collabo-
Additionally, MVPC provides a conduit through which rations. Kathleen Colwell, Methuen’s Planning Divi-
member communities can communicate and share sion Director, said her department is now working
ideas and resources; forming partnerships that make with Haverhill on rental housing and with Salisbury on
the entire region stronger and more resilient. small business assistance programs.
“I’m really grateful to be part of a network where if Each of the projects and programs through which
you have a question you can pick up the phone and MVPC assists individual municipalities is aimed at
someone is there,” said Pedro Soto, Lawrence’s Plan- building and strengthening the entire 15 community
ning Director, adding that being part of MVPC is like region, keeping an eye on a big picture vision for the
having an advisory board to turn to at any time. “We future, while also focusing on the small details.
are in the day-to-day operations of the city all week;
MVPC sees things from a higher level and makes con- The following pages are an overview of some of the
nections we may not be aware of in the moment regional programs MVPC oversaw in the areas of
when we need them.” Community & Economic Development, Environmen-
tal, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), and Trans-
In a small town like West Newbury, Town Manager portation in 2020.
Angus Jennings said having MVPC as a regular venue
for communication, collaboration, and as a connec-
tion to resources has been invaluable.
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