What we do: We advance community engagement, climate resilience, sustainability, placemaking and livable cities, equity, affordable housing, and economic development These are synergistic goals to support our communities and our most vulnerable populations
Center for Resilient Metro-Regions (CRM) Services We work at a range of scales, from rural areas and small suburban communities to metropolitan regions.
Our work is organized as consulting contracts, applied research, student service learning, and exploration of new planning models, in partnership with municipalities, counties, regional planning agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, and non-profit organizations (NGOs).
As a subdivision of state government, municipal procurement from CRM is exempt from MGL Chapter 30B Procurement (Section 1 (3) and 1 (4)).
Our Background and Expertise We are embedded in Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning (LARP) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and support LARP’s areas of excellence. We draw on the expertise of our faculty, staff, research programs, student expertise, and partnerships.
Our expertise and experience includes:
Master and comprehensive planning
Sustainability, resilience, and climate action planning
Strategic and subject planning (e.g., housing plans, open space and recreation plans, downtown revitalization, community participation, facility reuse, community economic development, and trail feasibility assessments)
Grant writing, project scoping, project management
Strategic mission and organizational planning and development
Code audit and regulatory analysis and code revisions
Municipal Vulnerability Program planning and action grants
Applied research
Design and policy studios
CRM was established in 1985 (then Center for Rural Massachusetts) to undertake applied research in support of our mission. Center publications and projects, such as advancing the greenways concept, context-sensitive design, and strategic planning, have been studied and adopted throughout the United States and the world.
Wayne Feiden, FAICP, Director Center for Resilient Metro-Regions Lecturer of Practice Inquiries, request for proposals email: wfeiden at umass.edu