FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has been awarded $1.5 million in federal grant funding to facilitate collaboration among and provide training to emergency management professionals through the Northeast Emergency Management Training and Education Center (NEMTEC).

 

The funding comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program (RCPGP).

 

NEMTEC waslaunched in April 2023, offering accessible, no-cost, comprehensive training and education in emergency management across the six New England states to strengthen the regional response to natural and manmade disasters. Grant funding will enable NEMTEC to expand its reach and capabilities by developing a specific curriculum to address identified capability gaps and emerging topics.

 

The funding will support the expansion of the number and variety of classes offered and help provide training in multiple modalities and on various platforms to meet the diverse needs of New England emergency management professionals.

 

"We are fortunate to have a strong New England coalition of emergency management partners to address the increasing complexity and frequency of crisis events caused by climate change," said Governor Maura Healey. "I want to thank the Biden-Harris Administration and FEMA for this funding that will allow MEMA and our neighboring states to deliver relevant and specific training to make our most vulnerable communities more resilient."

 

During 2023, MEMA and NEMTEC provided more than 75 emergency management classes, serving over 1,100 participants. NEMTEC prioritizes innovation in eLearning and proactively seeks emerging technologies and tools that will expand virtual programs to enhance the accessibility of training courses.

 

 "Through collaboration, training, and planning, emergency management professionals will have the tools to expand their core capabilities within their jurisdictions, increasing community-level resilience and reducing long-term vulnerability, especially within disadvantaged communities," said MEMA Director Dawn Brantley.