Saugus and Swampscott received a combined $71,995 from the state this week to assist both towns as they upgrade their GIS (Geographic Information System) systems.
On Thursday, the Baker-Polito administration announced it awarded grant money — totaling $3 million — from the Community Compact IT Grant Program to 51 municipalities around the Commonwealth as a way to help towns strengthen their technological infrastructures.
Saugus received $57,000 for the creation of a GIS-based geoindex for document imaging, while Swampscott received $14,995 to update the town’s already existing GIS program. Systems such as these assist towns in collecting, analyzing, and mapping data.
In a state press release, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito congratulated the selected communities.
“As the Community Compact Cabinet Chair, I am proud of the success of this program,” she said, “and congratulate each of the award winners.”
Polito also said the towns receiving funds will be “empowered to undertake critical projects” that include improving record-keeping systems, enhancing public safety systems, consolidating billing platforms, implementing new software, and integrating systems.
Towns must apply for the competitive grant, which awards up to $200,000 to individual applicants and secures funding for local projects that assist with community development.
Since 2016, the press release reports the administration has awarded more than $27 million to Massachusetts towns, $12 million of which have gone to the IT grant program to support more than 300 districts’ modernizing projects.
Elyse Carmosino can be reached at [email protected].
