On November 7, 2011, Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray and Secretary of Administration and Finance Jay Gonzalez announced the creation of a new $4 million Community Innovation Challenge (CIC) grant program to incentivize and support innovative regionalization and other cost savings initiatives that will change the way local governments do business to maintain service delivery and stretch every tax payer dollar as far as possible.

Eligible applicants include: Municipalities, regional schools, school districts considering forming a regional school district or regionalizing services, and regional planning agencies and councils of government. Regional agencies and councils of governments may also serve as the administrative or fiscal agent on behalf of municipalities. Applicants will be required to submit a project timeline and detailed budget for their proposal. Additionally, applicants must propose a method to measure and evaluate both the success of implementing the proposed project and the success of the initiative or reform going forward once implemented.

Hello All- I am wondering: How many of you are connected to Municipalities and/or regional school districts?
I believe this grant may serve public access centers in many fronts in the future including funding and good will with municipalites.... Applying for this grant may be too late, but I am sure there will be others.
If anyone is interested in having an open brainstorm discussion on regionalization of any access/media services please call me and lets set up a discussion. (With MBI coming to Western Mass this may be more feasible)

Caroline office (413) 599-0940 cell (413) 433-7331