BOSTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $2.1 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse the costs of keeping the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) open safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The $2,113,969 Public Assistance grant will reimburse Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) for the cost of purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE) and taking other measures to keep essential staff and the public safe at RMV locations between July 2020 and January 2021.

 

The RMV also bought temporary countertop or desktop sneeze guards; glass panel mounted screens; communication devices; disinfecting supplies for facility and road test vehicle cleaning; signage; and dissemination of public information. They also contracted with seven vendors to provide disinfecting and cleaning services.

 

"FEMA is pleased to be able to assist the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles with these costs," said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. "Providing resources for our partners on the front lines of the pandemic fight is critical to their success, and our success as a nation."

 

FEMA's Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency.

 

So far, FEMA has provided more than $1.4 billion in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for pandemic-related expenses.

 

Additional information about FEMA's Public Assistance program is available at https://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit. To learn more about the COVID-19 response in Massachusetts, please visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4496