Mass. officials launch Resilient Coast Plan in Chelsea and push Mass Ready Act funding

State officials on the Chelsea waterfront on Monday presented the Resilient Coast Plan and urged rapid investment to protect dense, infrastructure‑heavy neighborhoods vulnerable to rising tides.

Secretary Rebecca Ter, introduced at the event, said the administration’s plan is a coordinated framework to assist local governments across a 50‑year horizon and highlighted the Mass Ready Act, which she said would authorize over $200 million for coastal resilience. "Every dollar invested in preparation can save $13 down the line," Ter said.

The plan identifies 15 coastal resilience districts and calls out Chelsea as part of the Mystic‑Charles watershed district. Event speakers said the Island End River area comprises roughly 500 acres, is home to about 5,000 people and supports an estimated $7 billion in local economic activity. Fidel Maltes, who opened the event, urged immediate investment, saying the Island End River resilience project could prevent an estimated $7.5 billion in building and infrastructure damage from storm events and representing roughly a 30:1 return on investment, per figures cited at the launch.

Allison Breezius, director of the state’s Coastal Zone Management office, described the plan as a ‘‘bottom‑up’’ effort developed with municipalities and community groups and said it is meant to guide actionable, place‑based solutions rather than remain a purely advisory document.

Deanna Moran, the state’s chief coastal resilience officer, outlined how the plan maps near‑term vulnerability within broader regional districts and recommends state‑led strategies to integrate resilience across agencies and accelerate local projects.

Local and regional officials framed the plan as both a public‑safety and equity measure. Mayor Pangalo of Salem praised regional cooperation and said resiliency investments protect lives and livelihoods. Senator D. Dominico said the plan ‘‘centers equity’’ and argued that communities with greater vulnerabilities, including Chelsea and Everett, need more than an even split of funding.

The launch included representatives from community groups and businesses that said they are already dealing with flooding. Rosanne Bonjivani of Green Roots called for objective prioritization that accounts for frontline environmental justice communities. The event closed without any formal vote or funding decision; speakers said next steps include moving from planning to project implementation and pursuing the funding mechanisms discussed at the launch.