Regional Services
Contact: Larry Adams (508) 459-3318
| The CMRPC Regional Services program provides technical information and expertise to support municipal operations, multi-community planning, economic development, and public decision-making. CMRPC staff provides these services through its website, publications, and the agency’s professional staff. |
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
CMRPC serves as a State Designated Regional Geographic Information System (GIS) Service Center for Central Massachusetts to provide overall coordination and planning, data management and development, and technical assistance and training for GIS activity within the region. The GIS staff provides services using data layers from our spatial data library, those provided by federal, state, municipal, and private data sources as well as custom data sets for your GIS needs. CMRPC has been expanding its expertise in this field for over to 15 years.
Economic Development
CMRPC’s economic development program focuses on providing technical assistance to communities seeking to:
· streamline and improve their local permitting processes;
· promote economic development by creating an environment conducive to balanced economic development through planning and zoning;
· work with neighboring communities to plan for regionally-significant projects that span or impact multiple communities;
· promote community and/or regional sustainability and smart growth;
· assess and re-develop potential Brownfields sites;
· develop the annual regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
MORE
MORE is a voluntary, member-driven, non-profit corporation comprised of communities that share geographic proximity and have an interest in addressing common issues with collective action. This program’s overriding goal is to break down the town boundary barriers and cultivate a true sense of regional collaboration in the Central Massachusetts region. MORE is funded through community investments, vendor service fees, and some initial CMRPC funding. Private sector contributions and grants will be solicited. CMRPC provides administrative support and programmatic guidance. Town Managers, Administrators, and/or Executive Secretaries represent the town membership.
Energy Planning
The Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) has identified the need to assess the region’s ability to produce and utilize renewable energy. CMRPC intends to assess the extent of renewable energy use in Central Massachusetts, undertake educational efforts to promote greater use in the Region, and develop a specific strategy for expanding use and developmenof renewable energy sources in Central Massachusetts.
Pavement Management for Municipalities
Pavement management is an asset management tool for developing a list of needed roadway improvements and balancing those needs with a community’s available resources. CMRPC offers technical assistance to communities interested in pursuing pavement management activities. Services may include data collection for communities that have established pavement management programs, advice and direction for communities seeking to start such programs, or the development of five-year improvement plans for communities with limited ability to pursue a local program. Communities will compensate CMRPC appropriately for such efforts.
Regional Traffic Counting
Staff completes about 200 Automatic Traffic Recorder (ATR) daily volume counts each summer counting season, including 25 MassHighway coverage stations. The annual count program rotates throughout the region on a three-year cycle. Axle classification data is often collected, providing information on heavy vehicle flows on established National Highway System (NHS) connectors to major intermodal facilities and other major highways. In addition, the program has the capacity to conduct speed studies where requested by communities or identified as part of other planning activities.
Regional Statistics & Demographics 
The CMRPC is a depository for both current and past statistical data for the Region and each of its 40 member municipalities. Available data includes statistics on housing, population, employment, and other useful publications, including US Census Bureau information. In addition, CMRPC provides periodic updates to future projections of population, households, and employment for the region and for individual municipalities.