More than 90% of Massachusetts municipalities are leveraging Public Health Excellence (PHE) Grant funds to meet established Performance Standards, expand capacity, and deliver more equitable local public health services.
$26.2 million in grant funding awarded statewide | 270+ public health workers funded | 56 PHE Grantees | 324 municipalities supported
In FY2026, up to $26.2 million in state and federal funding will be awarded through the Office of Local and Regional Health. These funds directly support the local public health workforce, shared services, and community-driven capacity-building.
Fiscal Year 2026 impact at a glance
- $26.2M in grant funding distributed statewide
- 270+ public health workers funded across Massachusetts
- 54 Shared Service Arrangements supporting 322 municipalities
- PHE funding also supports 2 standalone municipalities – Boston and Worcester – ensuring statewide equity
Strengthening the public health workforce
Grant-funded positions keep communities safe through environmental health, disease prevention, and community outreach. In Fiscal Year 2026, PHE grants fund:
- 77 environmental inspectors
- 46 public health nurses
- 21 epidemiologists
- 19 community health workers, health educators and behavioral health staff
- 7 agency leadership staff
- 22 operations staff
- 51 program coordinators
- 16 additional specialized roles
Expanding shared services
Through Shared Service Arrangements, municipalities pool staff, resources, and services to strengthen local health systems regardless of community size or budget.
Since FY2021, the program has grown to 54 Shared Service Arrangements, representing 322 cities and towns statewide.
Technical support for grantees
OLRH partners with local health departments to provide customized technical assistance designed to meet the unique needs of each community. Support is focused on building long-term local capacity, strengthening public health infrastructure, and ensuring every municipality can effectively meet statewide Performance Standards.
Current offerings include:
- Organizational competencies
- Workforce development and training
- Grant management and sustainability
- Environmental health enforcement support
- Community partnership development
- Racial and health equity initiatives
- Data analysis and interpretation support
- Local Public Health Nurse Consultant Program
- Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) support
- Legal technical assistance
- Local communications and relations support
Learn more
Curious how your municipality is using PHE grants to meet Performance Standards and expanding services? Contact localregionalpublichealth@mass.gov.