Government

Watertown’s IT Department Receives Grants from Mass. Community Compact

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The City of Watertown provided the following announcement:

The Watertown Technology Department is proud to announce the award of $457,965 in Massachusetts Community Compact Grants in Fiscal Year 2023. The Community Compact Cabinet was established by the Baker-Polito Administration in January 2015 as one of its first actions after taking office, with the goal of strengthening the state’s partnership with cities and towns and to allow the Administration to work more closely with municipal leaders. Led by Lt. Governor Polito, the Cabinet champions municipal interests across all executive secretariats and agencies, and develops, in consultation with cities and towns, mutual standards and best practices for both the state and municipalities. Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates Community Compact Programs and Announces $7 Million in Fiscal Year 2023 Grants | Mass.gov

Watertown is grateful for the opportunity to participate in this amazing program and excited to complete the projects funded for FY 2023. The Watertown Technology Department received awards in three categories:

•    Best Practices

•    Information Technology

•    Municipal Fiber

The Best Practices program is based on voluntary, mutual Community Compact agreements that individual cities and towns have entered into with the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth Compact

Lt. Governor Signs Agreement Which Will Help Watertown Build ‘Complete Streets’

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Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito came to town last week to welcome the Town of Watertown as the latest community to sign a Commonwealth Compact with the Baker-Polito Administration. 

Watertown is the 261st community to sign a Commonwealth Compact and the compact focuses on Complete Streets, which seeks to make streets accessible not only to motor vehicles but mass transit, bicycles and pedestrians. By signing the compact, Watertown promises to use “best-practices” when implementing complete streets, and in return they have have a leg up on getting access to state assistance, including grants for design and construction of street projects. “It is the second year of funding, and this year we have $2 million in the Commonwealth Compact Best Practices Fund,” Polito said. The town can hire a consultant to figure out the best practices, and if the town cannot find one the state will hire a third party to work with the town. “Once the town achieves best practices, it will be eligible to apply for Complete Street construction funds,” Polito added.