Mayor Katjana Ballantyne is honored to announce that the City of Somerville has been officially named a Certified Climate Leader Community by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), joining an inaugural group of 19 municipalities recognized for bold climate action. 

This top-tier designation honors Somerville’s leadership in clean energy and climate resilience, and unlocks new access to state grant funding for future sustainability projects. 

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne is announcing the winning projects from Somerville’s second Participatory Budgeting cycle. More than 4,000 residents voted to determine how to invest $1 million in community-generated ideas.

“Participatory Budgeting puts the power of public funds directly in our community’s hands,” said Mayor Ballantyne. “I’m so proud of the creativity, collaboration, and care that our residents continue to bring to this process. These winning projects reflect what matters most to our community, and we can’t wait to bring them to life.”

"From start to finish, this process has prioritized community voices and a shared vision for Somerville's future, and we can all be proud of that.” ― Mayor Katjana Ballantyne

Somerville residents are once again readying their porches for a citywide day of homemade concerts for the city’s annual Porchfest. Hosted by the City’s Somerville Arts Council, PorchFest 2025 takes place on Saturday, May 10, from noon to 6 p.m., transforming porches and stoops across Somerville into mini music venues that showcase the city’s incredible talent and creative spirit.