What communities are eligible for the Community Compact? And are these optional?
The application for the FY25 Best Practice Grant Program opens on August 19, 2024, and are accepted on a rolling basis. In order to fill out the application you will need the link that was included in FY25 Community Compact Cabinet kickoff letter from Lt. Governor Driscoll emailed in August 2024 to your community’s Chief Municipal Executive (Mayor or City Manager in a City, Selectboard Chair or Town Manager/Administrator in a Town). Municipalities that did not receive grant awards in FY24 are eligible.
What is a Community Compact?
The Community Compact is a voluntary, mutual agreement entered into between the Healey-Driscoll Administration and individual cities and towns of the Commonwealth. In a Community Compact, a community will agree to implement at least one best practice that they select from across a variety of areas. The community’s chosen best practice(s) will be reviewed between the Commonwealth and the municipality to ensure that the best practice(s) chosen are unique to the municipality and reflect needed areas of improvement.
How does a Community Compact work? What is the obligation of my community?
Communities will self-identify the best practice(s) from the list on the Community Compact website. A community can choose one or two best practice(s) but they must be submitted together (i.e., can’t submit one now and come back later to submit a second one). The community’s chosen best practice(s) will be reviewed between the Commonwealth and the municipality to ensure that the best practice(s) chosen are unique to the municipality and reflect needed areas of improvement. Those communities participating in the Community Compact will, over a two year period, implement the best practice(s) they selected when entering into the Compact. The Division of Local Services serves as the primary point of entry for communities looking for resources in best practice development and implementation.
Is there a deadline to apply for the Compact?
No. It is a rolling program that runs until available program funds are exhausted. A community may choose to enter into the Community Compact at any time. Each Compact agreement will run for two years. During the two year period of each compact, the Division of Local Services will periodically check in with the communities to monitor progress toward the implementation of the selected best practice(s).
Can communities have a joint Community Compact?
Yes, regionalization of the Compact is an option. A lead community will choose the regionalization best practice, and fill out the application.