Old Colony Planning Council

Join OCPC in Septemberfor any of our public meetings! All meetings are available to the public and we look forward to seeing you there. More information about attending meetings can be found on the OCPC website calendar. 🗓️ https://oldcolonyplanning.org/meetings-events/

OCPC is honored to work with MassHire Greater Brockton Workforce Board for the second year to host two students from the City of Brockton through their Summer Jobs program. We are extremely proud to have received the Empower Future Leaders Award!

Alicia and Kizziyah were incredible assets during the summer months and we are proud of the great work they did and the skills they developed!

On August 15th, Old Colony Planning Council (OCPC) in partnership with the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) held the first in-person Green Communities Workshop! The one-hour workshop will discuss the fundamentals of the Green Communities program and the services that OCPC provides under the Regional Energy Planning Assistance (REPA) Grant from the state.

Paul Umano, Senior Grants Development Specialist, for OCPC covered the basics of the program and the work that OCPC does for our communities. This will be in addition to discussing the importance of setting internal deadlines for reporting and application submission. Lisa Sullivan, Regional Coordinator, for the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) presented on the funding opportunities from DOER, answered specific questions about the program, and more! Find the recorded workshop on OCPC's YouTube Channel!

News from Old Colony Planning Council - https://mailchi.mp/5423e191494d/z5jgcsdy65-17331726

OCPC is excited to introduce two new interns that have joined our team this summer! OCPC is partnering with MassHire Greater Brockton Workforce Board to work with youth in the community to learn about working in a corporate setting. Alicia and Kizziyah will primarily work with administrative staff throughout the summer, while also working with other departments to learn more about the organization.

The Old Colony Planning Council Transportation Team, in partnership with the Town of Stoughton (Stoughton Town Manager), will host a hybrid public informational meeting for the Stoughton Route 139 Corridor Transportation Planning Study between 6:00PM-7:30PM on July 18th, 2024, in the Stoughton Police Department. If attending virtually, please register through Zoom to access your unique call-in information, in-person attendance does not require registration.

🔗To register for virtual participation use this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ce_UiPcdTW6Ck4PN68QWyw #/registration

News from Old Colony Planning Council - https://mailchi.mp/c70389e9b891/z5jgcsdy65-17329394

Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸 OCPC will be closed today to celebrate the holiday and our nation’s independence. OCPC wishes you a fantastic day with family and friends. Staff will be back in office Friday, July 5th.

On Friday, June 28th, OCPC Executive Director Mary Waldron attended the Annual Meeting of our partners Brockton Housing Authority. It was attended by many area housing authorities and their tenants. Congratulations to Tom Thibeault and his team, the area state legislators and city/town officials.

News from Old Colony Planning Council - https://mailchi.mp/98dfc6a057ac/z5jgcsdy65-17328030

OCPC will be hosting our Annual Meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, June 26! We can not wait to show off all the work we have accomplished this year! Feel free to join us virtually!

Join the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Old Colony Planning Council in partnership with the Southeastern Massachusetts MPO to learn more about MassDOT’s five-year Capital Investment Plan (CIP), including investments planned for Southeastern Massachusetts, and provide your comments. The CIP guides how the Commonwealth prioritizes and funds local and statewide transportation projects, including railroad, transit, accessibility upgrades, roadway and bridge improvements, and municipal projects. Register for the zoom to participate tonight: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AelQS-bRSzGEvVW81WgMWg #/registration

The OCPC Office will be closed on Wednesday, June 19th in honor of Juneteenth. Old Colony Planning Council (OCPC) staff will be back in the office on Thursday, June 20th!

The Old Colony Planning Council (OCPC) embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion as organizational values. We recognize the fundamental relationship between these values and thriving communities. OCPC commits to reflecting these values in all its work does and strives to uphold these values in all facets of organizational operations.

Join OCPC and the Town of Hanson, MA Thursday, June 20th at 6:00 PM for the FINAL meeting regarding the town's Master Plan. Come review the draft Action Plan for the town and provide feedback! Can't make the meeting? Comments can be submitted to Rhiannon Dugan at [email protected]. Please remember that all comments are public records. Thank you for your participation and ongoing commitment to the Town.

News from Old Colony Planning Council - https://mailchi.mp/2df5a842e5c4/z5jgcsdy65-17177686

Join OCPC and the Town of East Bridgewater, Massachusetts Monday, June 17th at 6:00 PM for the FINAL meeting regarding the town's Master Plan. Come review the draft Action Plan for the town and provide feedback! Can't make the meeting? Comments can be submitted to Rhiannon Dugan at [email protected]. Please remember that all comments are public records. Thank you for your participation and ongoing commitment to the Town.

OCPC is excited to introduce two new interns that have joined our team this summer!

Mackenzie Vianna will be entering her senior year at Bridgewater State University in the fall to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Geography with concentration in Environmental Planning and Conservation. Additionally, she will be minoring in Urban Planning and Sustainability. Mackenzie’s future goals are finishing school and continuing to figure out her career path, and to visit all the National Parks. She enjoys traveling and looking for good coffee shops.

Ryan Saucier is currently studying Engineering at Bristol Community College. After graduating from Bristol CC he will move on to UMASS Dartmouth to study Civil Engineering. Prior to working at OCPC, Ryan lead a youth group called DeMolay, an organization specifically designed to provide young adults with positive experiential training in leadership, organizational management, community service, public speaking, event planning and more.

Both interns will be assisting all departments with data collection, public outreach, reporting, and more. We encourage you to reach out to them to introduce yourselves and welcome them to the team!

Old Colony Planning Council has launched the second session of “OCPC Grantology: Navigating the World of Funding”, hosted by OCPC’s Grant Development Specialist, Paul Umano. OCPC Grantology was designed to identify, educate, and assist our 17 Communities, plus the additional 6 Area Agency on Aging Communities.

This session's half-hour webinar reviews the typical grant cycle timeline, green energy grants available, and a focus on the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Technology (SMART) grant. Additionally, Paul shares a few news grants that have become available that may be of interest to you and your community! While OCPC Grantology is still in the initial stages of development, Paul has already been successful in submitting grants and in helping many members of our communities in the few short months he has been with us.

We look forward to creating more opportunities for our communities as this will be a monthly series to share information and knowledge.
🔗More information can always be found on our website as well as in our biweekly newsletter: https://oldcolonyplanning.org/grantology/
📩If you have more in-depth questions always feel free to reach out to Paul Umano, [email protected]

Join OCPC in June for any of our public meetings! All meetings are available to the public and we look forward to seeing you there. More information about attending meetings can be found on the OCPC website calendar. 🗓️ https://oldcolonyplanning.org/meetings-events/

News from Old Colony Planning Council - https://mailchi.mp/3ea205a06871/z5jgcsdy65-17100825

Last Wednesday, May 22nd, the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Committee convened for its spring meeting to hear about new and ongoing projects underway in the district, and begin conversation about goals and priorities of the CEDS as we approach 2025. Lynn Tokarczyk of Business Development Strategies, Inc. was also on hand to offer the Committee a presentation on government tax incentives for real estate expansion projects, market trends, and growth sectors in the Commonwealth.

Happy Memorial Day weekend! OCPC will be closed on Monday, May 27th, but will be open again Tuesday, May 28th. We take the time this weekend to remember and honor those who lost their lives serving for our freedom.

On Friday, April 26th, OCPC’s GIS Manager and drone pilot, Andrew Vidal, performed a demonstration of drone flying for a local preschool in Halifax. Seven children, aged three to five, were introduced to the excitement of seeing their world from 400 feet in the air! Drones are more than just entertaining and educational; they can help in all aspects of the planning process. OCPC has three certified drone pilots on staff who have flown missions for intersection analysis, congestion management analysis, road safety audits, and flood inspections. Visit our website today at https://oldcolonyplanning.org/drone-program/ for more information and our drone mission request form.

With riders across Massachusetts celebrating Bay State Bike Month this May, the Brockton Area Transit (BAT) and Old Colony Planning Council partnered on a Bike with BAT event on May 15, 2024 at the BAT Centre Riders stopped by for refreshments provided by Lady C&J Café which is located within the BAT Centre. Safety and informational items provided by MassBike were available and the event featured a thoughtful discussion between everyone in attendance regarding bicycles and safety. OCPC and BAT look forward to next year’s event!

News from Old Colony Planning Council - https://mailchi.mp/046717c0af67/z5jgcsdy65-17099769

Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month (OAM). The 2024 theme is Powered by Connection, which recognizes the profound impact that meaningful relationships and social connections have on our health and well-being. We will explore the vital role that connectedness plays in supporting independence and aging in place by combating isolation, loneliness, and other issues. Throughout the month, the OCPC Ombudsman Program will continue to make regular, meaningful visits to the residents in their long term care homes in our service area. We will participate in several resident council meetings at the request of the residents and encourage and empower the residents to engage and make their voices louder. We also have a welcomed volunteer participating in May’s certification classes. The next virtual training is June 7. If interested in this rewarding work and being part of a great team, contact Lila Burgess at 774-539-5217. ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever does’- Margaret Mead

🔗To learn more about Older Americans Month visit: https://acl.gov/oam/2024/older-americans-month-2024