The Baker administration is sending $3.5 million to 70 cities and towns across Massachusetts for local technology infrastructure.
The infrastructure projects, funded under the Community Compact Cabinet Information Technology program, range from a new public WiFi network in downtown Pittsfield to the creation of an online permitting system in Plymouth to upgrades to bolster East Longmeadow's cybersecurity infrastructure and improve disaster recovery capabilities.
“Technology systems support so many of the critical services that Massachusetts cities, towns and school districts provide to residents,” said Governor Charlie Baker in a statement. “We are proud that our Administration, through the work of the Community Compact Cabinet, is continuing its partnership with local communities to enable another round of innovative IT improvement projects.”
The biggest grant, $156,000, is going to Amesbury to improve disaster recovery and cybersecurity capabilities. Others include e-permitting systems in several towns, an iPad training/education program for senior citizens in Ludlow, and a new GIS-based cemetery records management system in Templeton.
The program, founded in 2015, has now given out 749 grants through worth $19.2 million. The Baker-Polito adminhistration is also creating a new Municipal Fiber Grant program opening for applications in March.
