MVP 2.0 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below are some frequently asked questions about the MVP 2.0 Planning Grant and process. Please check back often, as this information is subject to change.

Application & Funding

Do I need to submit a budget as part of the MVP 2.0 application?

No, the funding awarded will be the same across communities to complete the process. Regional projects (more than one community applying together) will receive seed project funding per community and some extra funding for the other steps of the process, as more coordination is involved.

Is a local match required for the MVP 2.0 grant?

There is no formal match requirement for the MVP 2.0 grant, but applicants should commit sufficient time to assure completion of the steps and goals of the MVP 2.0 process. The estimated number of hours the project manager and other municipal Core Team members will need to dedicate over the two-year grant is 105 hours and 85 hours, respectively, for Steps 1-8 and Step 10, with additional hours to manage the Seed Project in Step 9. 

Can communities ask for a reduced scope for current or previous work that is very similar to MVP 2.0 steps or activities? 

Yes. Please reach out to your Regional Coordinator for more information.

If a community is approved for a reduced scope, would that mean reduced funding for the MVP 2.0 process?

Yes. EEA will calculate the amount of grant funding based on how much of the MVP 2.0 process is left to be fulfilled under the program. 

MVP 2.0 Process

Will the MVP 2.0 process be required in future years after the pilot?

Our intention is for all communities to eventually complete the MVP 2.0 process to maintain eligibility for MVP Action Grants. Those with the oldest plans will be required to complete the process first. You will be contacted when it is time for your community to apply to MVP 2.0.

What is the expectation for communities that are understaffed and what support are we going to get from the state to complete the MVP 2.0 process?

The community will utilize grant funding to hire a planning vendor that will assist the community with the steps of the MVP 2.0 process. The community will also be paired with an Equity Partner to provide assistance for many of the steps. There is an expectation that the municipal lead and core team members will commit enough time to make the process successful.

If required communities decide not to participate in MVP 2.0, will it eventually preclude them from being eligible for MVP funding in the future?   

Yes. If the required community did not submit an application for their required grant round, the community will not be eligible to apply for Action Grants until they pursue MVP 2.0. If the community decides to wait until a subsequent round to apply, they will not be given priority for award and may need to wait additional rounds to be awarded a 2.0 grant and thus be eligible for action grant funding. 

Our community does not have a formal climate action plan. Does the MVP 2.0 grant fund climate action planning? 

MVP 2.0 provides funding for communities to complete a prescribed planning process as outlined in the Process Guide. This process is a climate resilience planning process. The MVP 2.0 process does not focus on climate mitigation or decarbonization specifically. If a community wants to pursue climate mitigation planning, that can be identified as a component to add on during a Seed Project or through a different grant or process. We expect to require all communities to undertake the steps in the MVP 2.0 process to update their MVP priorities, so we would recommend pursuing this grant before deciding whether or not to create a different climate resilience plan. 

What is the difference between a Core Team member and a Community Liaison? Which positions are paid and which are not?  

The Core Team is a team of municipal staff and community members who will lead the MVP 2.0 process. Half of your Core Team members will be Community Liaisons — members of your community or region who have strong connections with Environmental Justice and priority populations who will lead outreach to these communities throughout the process. Community Liaisons will be compensated for their time with grant funding. Any other Core Team members who are not municipal employees can also be compensated through the grant budget as necessary. 

Could a town use MVP 2.0 funds to update their MVP plan and Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) at the same time? 

Because the MVP 2.0 process is not a traditional planning process, it does not align as well with the HMP process as the MVP Planning 1.0 process did. Most notably, the final deliverable of the MVP 2.0 process is an updated list of priorities, not a plan.

Seed Project

Do you have a list of Seed Projects or some ideas of Seed Projects for MVP 2.0? 

The best way to approach Seed Projects is to let the Core Team and community develop ideas through the MVP 2.0 process outlined in the Process Guide. Communities will be provided Seed Project ideas for inspiration during the MVP 2.0 process; but ultimately, the Seed Project a community chooses should be based on their updated climate resilience priorities informed by community members through the MVP 2.0 process.

How should we think about approaching the Seed Project—should we do a regional or town-specific project?

Your community will identify a Seed Project as part of the MVP 2.0 process. If you are undergoing MVP 2.0 as part of a regional group, it is up to your group and community members to identify if they would like to do collective or separate Seed Projects.