MA Rural Policy Plan Released
The MA Rural Policy Advisory Commission (RPAC) released its Rural Policy Plan for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (PDF file, 30mb). The Plan identifies, highlights and offers policy recommendations related to the unique issues and challenges faced by rural Massachusetts. The Plan provides a socioeconomic summary of rural Massachusetts and addresses 15 Focus Areas that were identified through listening sessions held across the state in late 2018. The goal of the Plan is to provide a thorough but succinct outline of each Focus Area that identifies the issues and highlights sub-regional differences, describes current related state policies and a best practices from Massachusetts or other parts of the country or the world, and provides prioritized recommendations. Members of the RPAC and rural Regional Planning Agencies have shared in the effort to engage and solicit input from a large swath of stakeholders throughout Massachusetts through meetings and other efforts, and in sharing in the writing of the Plan.<!–
Introduction
Broadband and Cell Coverage
Climate Change and Resiliency
Cross-Jurisdictional Service Sharing
Economic Development
Education
Housing
Land Use and Working Landscapes
Municipal Board and Staffing Constraints
Municipal Financial Capacity Constraints
Public Health and Healthcare
Reversing Population Trends
Transportation – Other Modes
Transportation – Roads, Bridges and Culverts
Water and Sewer Infrastructure
Workforce needs
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