The Quaboag Valley Community Development Corporation (QVCDC) received a Synergy Initiative Implementation Year 2 grant of $425,000 in 2023 and an additional $50,000 to support targeted research and advocacy by the Center for State Policy Analysis (cSPA) for the Quaboag Connector project. The Quaboag Connector project aims to develop a sustainable, scalable model for rural transportation to increase access to health and community resources in the Quaboag Valley region. The project was designed through a Design Thinking process to meet the expressed needs of community members for travel to destinations that related to social determinants of health. In addition to continuing to offer its popular demand-response services, in 2023 the Quaboag Connector plans to continue to enhance its fixed-route option and to develop metrics to guide related strategic decision making. The project also plans to develop and execute an advocacy and sustainability plan, including the development of a rural transportation toolkit and improved marketing materials to encourage ridership within the community.
| 2023 – Implementation, Year 2 (cSPA) | $50,000 |
| 2023 – Implementation, Year 2 | $425,000 |
| 2022 – Implementation, Year 1 | $425,000 |
| 2021 – Pilot Grant | $425,000 |
| 2020 – Planning Grant | $203,763 |
| Total | $1,528,763 |
Quaboag Connector Logic Model
News
◊ Route 9 Shuttle service bridges rural transportation gap
Ware River News, June 23, 2022
◊ Saturday Shuttle Launches in Quaboag Valley
MassMobility Newsletter, March 2022
◊ Health foundation awards prestigious grant to rural transportation initiative
MassMobility Newsletter, MA Executive Office of Health & Human Services, February 2020