Mass. travel office unveils MA250 marketing push, $2M grant pool; commission hears NPS staffing and emergency-exercise updates

Kate Fox, director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, told the Special Commission on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution that the agency is ramping up marketing, grant support and programming for MA250, including a new 16‑minute podcast series and a $2,000,000 grant pool for events and promotions.

The travel office has secured media partnerships with outlets including NBC 10 Boston, WCVB, WGBH, The Boston Globe, the Boston Business Journal, Yankee Magazine and National Geographic Traveler (UK), Fox said. The office is producing a 16‑minute podcast, It’s Revolutionary, and has launched sports‑team partnerships that will place MA250 branding at professional games starting in early March.

"We have developed media partnerships with NBC 10, Boston, WCVB TV, WGBH, the Boston Globe, the BBJ, Yankee Magazine, Boston Spirit Magazine, Nat Geo Traveler UK," Fox said. She told commissioners the second round of MA250 grants will total $2,000,000, will be announced in the next week or two and award funds that can be spent through the end of July 2026 so applicants can cover July 4, 2026 programming.

Fox described other outreach tools and programs: a Shopify store for MA250 merchandise, a Museums 250 program highlighting participating museums and 24‑ to 48‑hour itineraries developed with regional tourism councils. She said the MA250 website lists about 200 events and 70 attractions and that the office is recording and posting a fortnightly virtual “lunch and learn” series for organizers.

Commission staff member Jonathan Lane gave a separate update on local events and partnerships. He highlighted a pop‑up museum event planned for April 8 at Cushing Hall in Norwell, collaborative planning for Old Dartmouth (Fairhaven, Acushnet, New Bedford, Dartmouth and Westport), and a Concord Museum conference April 10–11. Lane also previewed Patriots Day weekend programming and noted filmmaker and podcaster Dan Snow will be in Massachusetts for preproduction and filming around April 19.

Commissioners raised concerns about National Park Service (NPS) staffing for high‑profile commemorations. Senator Mark asked whether NPS layoffs and a continuing resolution in Washington could affect operations on April 19. Lane said he has spoken with park staff and been "assured that they are, while their staffing levels are not at what they would like, … going to move heaven and earth to be prepared for April 19," including borrowing staff from other parks.

A commission member identified as Susie added that NPS officials told regional partners they were monitoring the federal continuing resolution — scheduled in the meeting discussion to expire on March 14 — and that depending on its length they "may have to make some other decisions in terms of the events at NPS." Susie and Lane both described a recent multi‑agency, six‑hour practical exercise with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA/NEMA) in which a Unified Coordination Center at Minute Man and emergency operations centers in Concord, Lexington and Lincoln were stood up as a drill.

Other items noted: the Governor’s Conference on Travel and Tourism is scheduled for March 18–19 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield with state officials and museum curators participating; the travel office expects to announce round‑two grants soon; and the office is producing itinerary content and social media support for revolutionary‑era sites statewide.

Votes at a glance

- Acceptance of minutes: motion made (mover not specified), seconded by Paula Rehnquist; recorded voice vote of "aye" (three recorded "ayes"); outcome: approved.

- Adjournment: motion moved (mover not specified), second not specified; recorded voice vote of "aye" (three recorded "ayes"); outcome: approved.

Next steps and context

Commissioners said they will meet again in March; members hope new legislative committee assignments will be in place before Patriots Day and that planning, grant awards and interagency coordination will continue through the spring and into next year.