Press Release: 2019-12-10
Representative Lori Trahan Announces Economic Development Grant for Project in Merrimack Valley
Representative Lori Trahan Announces Economic Development Grant for Project in Merrimack Valley
Washington, December 9, 2019
Washington, DC – Today, Representative Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) announced that the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded a $37,500 federal grant to the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC). The grant was awarded through the EDA’s Local Technical Assistance grant program.
The $37,500 EDA grant awarded to the MVPC will support the development of a comprehensive online data clearinghouse for the Merrimack Valley region. This data application will assist the region with ongoing recovery efforts resulting from gas explosions that devastated the communities of Andover, Lawrence and North Andover.
“One of the lessons we learned in the aftermath of the Merrimack Valley gas explosions was that a lack of coordinated data can slow a recovery. The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission is now leading us in preparedness by building a database of critical information that will help sustain and improve the recovery process now and should another crisis arise,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The information that will be collected can easily be used by all of our Merrimack Valley cities and towns in bolstering economic development efforts and planning. I applaud the MVPC for their work in creating this important tool, and for their efforts to secure this grant funding.”
“We’re living in the era of big data. This information shapes how we direct public resources and how businesses make decisions. Bringing the latest in data processing technology and making that available to our communities allows us to serve the region in a really essential way. The Merrimack Valley Data Portal will help people discover important information about their communities and the region as a whole,” said Nate Robertson, Community and Economic Development Planner, MVPC.
Additional Project Description:
The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC) has been awarded funding to support the development of a comprehensive online data clearinghouse for the Merrimack Valley region. Using Geographic Information System (GIS) software as the foundation, this clearinghouse will be a public tool capable of instantly accessing the most robust available data for this region, including demographic, employment, industry, income, education, commuting, rental, and housing data. This innovative tool will make accessing essential planning and economic development-related data easier, faster and more streamlined. As was seen during the Columbia Gas disaster recovery effort, having up-to-date information about our communities is essential, especially in regards to directing resources. This holds true for more than just disaster relief however, abundant and understandable data is crucial for any and all public policy decisions.
More information on the EDA's grant and investment process can be found here.