Common Ground E-Newsletter
| | Join Us - 5th Thursday Event on April 30th | | |
"5th Thursday" Networking and Educational Event
On Thursday, April 30th, Guest presenter Rick Collins, Director of the Siting and Permitting Division of DOER, will review recent energy siting and permitting regulations and what they mean for municipalities. Networking begins at 4pm, with appetizers and a cash bar, followed by the presentation beginning shortly after 5pm.
Attendees are encouraged to submit questions in advance. Please email questions to us at sfernandez-aubert@berkshireplanning.org.
Tickets must be reserved by Thursday, April 23rd. Visit our Eventbrite page to purchase tickets.
| | Our Sincere Thanks to Thomas Matuszko | | |
BRPC Executive Director, Tom Matuszko, will retire on April 30
Our very best wishes to BRPC's executive director, Thomas Matuszko, as his retirement approaches at the end of this month. Tom joined BRPC as a Principal Planner in 1997 and became Assistant Director to Nat Karns in 2001. His role as Assistant Director continued into 2018, when he was named Executive Director.
"I have had the privilege and honor to serve the residents of Berkshire County for nearly 29 years...From a staff of 7, we now have over 50 employees and are working in nearly all 32 Berkshire communities. We have maintained and strengthened 'traditional' planning services, such as land use and transportation, and prepared Master, Open Space and Recreation, and Housing plans in many Berkshire municipalities. But we have expanded into many other areas as well," Tom stated when sharing his plans with the BRPC Executive Committee last fall. "I have immensely enjoyed the ever-present and ever-changing demands, challenges, and opportunities of the work. It has been everything and more that I could have hoped for nearly 3 decades ago."
Read more on iBerkshires.com.
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Congratulations to BRPC's Nicholas Russo!
Nicholas was honored at the annual 40 under Forty awards, hosted by Berkshire Community College in March. 40 Under Forty celebrates talented people in the Berkshires, under the age of 40, who have a deep dedication to improving the quality of life for those living and working in our community.
Nick's work as a Senior Transportation Planner has enabled him to collaborate with the municipalities of the Berkshires to make their streets safer through BRPC's Complete Streets and Vision Zero Initiatives. Advocating for Pittsfield's streets and public spaces has brought residents, professionals, and local officials together to think about Pittsfield in a new way.
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GIS, Data and IT Manager Mark Maloy recently reached a milestone anniversary - 25 years on the BRPC team!
Among many other projects, Mark oversees the invaluable Berkshire Benchmarks website, full of information about each community in our county and indicators of the regional progress across several topics. He is also the BRPC lead for all Decennial Census coordination - look for information about 2030 soon!
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Clete Kus, AICP, recently reached a milestone anniversary with our organization - 15 years as part of the BRPC team!
Clete oversees BRPC's Transportation Program and its charge of developing the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) through the Berkshire Metropolitan Planning Organization. Clete also participates in regional and statewide initiatives, including freight and passenger rail.
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Free AI Training for Every MA Resident
The Massachusetts AI Hub and Google have joined forces to unlock new opportunities for residents across the Commonwealth, so you can gain the skills you need to thrive in today’s digital economy.
Massachusetts residents will receive no-cost access to the following Google programs until December 31, 2027:
- Google AI Professional Certificate
- Google AI Essentials
- Google Agile Essentials
- Google Career Certificates (e.g., Data Analytics, IT Support, Project Management)
Learn more about the Google AI Professional training and how to earn a certificate.
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Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation
Proposals could orient toward use of resources in sustainable ways, preservation of wildlife habitats, conservation of wilderness, integration of food production, technology, economics, and community development in harmonious ways with the natural world. Proposals should limit funding requests to one year in the range of $1,000 to $10,000.
Application deadline: April 15, 2026. Learn more about Foundation grant proposals.
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Farmers Market Grant | Farm Credit East
Farm Credit East supports participating farmers, market enhancements, marketing efforts and/or programs to support disadvantaged communities or improve access to fresh, local food.
Application deadline: April 15, 2026. Find more information and how to apply here.
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Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants | Mass CEC
MassCEC's Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants increase access to modern, relevant training. The grants provide up to $1,200,000 across two to three years in direct funding and technical assistance to organizations that can build and scale career pathways leading to climate-critical priority occupations for individuals from Environmental Justice neighborhoods or low-income communities, members of Federally recognized and State-acknowledged Tribes, Fossil Fuel Workers, and other underrepresented populations.
Application Deadline: May 1, 2026. Questions? Contact rfpworkforce@masscec.com for more information.
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Climate Smart for Agriculture Grants | Mass.gov
The Climate Smart Agriculture Program (CSAP) combines several MDAR grant programs into one streamlined application to help Massachusetts farms invest in projects that strengthen their operations and improve sustainability. These grants support practices that address vulnerability to climate change, mitigate climate change, safeguard natural resources, increase energy efficiency, promote renewable energy, and improve economic resiliency.
Application Deadline: May 7, 2026. Submit applications here.
Questions? Please contact Laura Maul for more information.
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Public Health Planning
Program Manager Jaymie Zapata
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Identifying Resources in the Berkshires with 413Cares
BRPC is partnered with the Public Health Institute of Western MA to develop and promote the resource-listing website 413Cares.org. 413Cares is intended to be a bridge to services for those in need. There is a vast number of resources and services available to the residents of Berkshire County, but they are not always apparent to everybody. Share this with people and partners in your community today to ensure we all live informed, connected, and supported lives!
Finding resources to match your needs is easy through 413Cares. 413Cares.org is a free online community resource database that includes not just the Berkshires, but all of Western Massachusetts. On this website, you will find free or reduced-cost direct services. 413Cares partners with Findhelp, the largest nationwide network of free and reduced-cost programs, to provide this service, to better connect all people in need to programs that can serve them. You can also check out the Berkshire landing page for quick lists of resources broken out into North, Central, and South counties.
Using 413Cares is simple: go to 413Cares.org and pick a resource category from the main page or enter your ZIP code to view nearby services. Entering your ZIP code is the quickest way to find the right resource for your needs, as it also allows you to look at specific subcategories of resources. For example, you can dive deeper into the “Food” category to explore emergency food pantries, financial support for food, meal sites, or nutrition education services. There are thousands of resources listed on 413Cares, and this makes it easy to find just the one (or more) you need.
Organizations are also encouraged to use 413Cares. All resources listed can be claimed by the respective organization, indicated by a check mark. Organizations can then tailor the information made available to the public to provide the best way to represent what they have to offer and find the appropriate population for their services. If you find a resource that is not claimed and you know of a contact within the respective organization, please pass along information to Aaron Holman-Vittone at aholman-vittone@berkshireplanning.org. Additionally, every user also has the ability to suggest a resource to be listed on the website.
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Public Health Services
Program Manager Lydia Shulman
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Spring Into Septic Awareness
As winter fades and spring begins, homeowners should take time to assess the condition of their septic systems. Seasonal changes—such as snowmelt, increased rainfall and thawing ground can put added stress on systems, especially in rural areas like Berkshire County where many homes rely on them. Spring is an ideal time to identify potential problems early, before they develop into costly repairs or public health concerns.
Recognizing the warning signs of a failing septic system is critical. A strong sewage odor outside, especially near the septic tank or drain field, is often one of the first indicators. Homeowners should also watch for ponding, or standing water, over the drain field, which suggests wastewater is not being properly absorbed. Inside the home, slow drains, gurgling pipes, or sewage backups are serious red flags that require immediate attention, as they may indicate system overload or failure.
Proper maintenance is essential for keeping a septic system functioning effectively. Regular pumping, as recommended under Title V (T5) guidelines, typically every three to five years helps prevent solids from building up and clogging the system. Routine cleaning of the outlet filter is also important to maintain proper flow. Homeowners should be aware that garbage disposals are not a septic system’s best friend, as they introduce excess food waste and solids that can overload the system. Keeping maintenance records and scheduling inspections can significantly extend the life of the system.
Equally important is being mindful of what goes down the drain. Septic systems are designed to handle only human waste and toilet paper. Items such as sanitary wipes, feminine hygiene products, grease, oils, chemical cleaners, coffee grounds and paint can cause blockages or disrupt the natural treatment process. By recognizing warning signs, following proper maintenance practices, and avoiding harmful materials, homeowners can protect their systems, prevent costly repairs and safeguard public health and local water quality.
To learn more about septic systems, take a look at these educational materials.
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Transportation Planning
Program Manager Clete Kus
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County-wide Traffic Safety Data Survey
In 2024, BRPC launched the Berkshire STEPS (Safe Travel and Equity Plan for our Streets) Initiative, a comprehensive, data-driven approach to reducing and eliminating fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.
As part of this program, we developed the STEPS Action Plan, outlining the goal of zero roadway deaths or serious injuries in Berkshire County by the year 2040 – a goal commonly known as Vision Zero, and the Berkshire County Data Dashboard, an interactive High-Injury Network map available for use by local officials to address the most hazardous roads and intersections in their region.
With these efforts effectively undertaken, BRPC is excited to announce we have partnered with software provider Citian to utilize their CRASH software suite to develop an updated High Injury Network (HIN) Dashboard for use by the public and local decision makers.
We are inviting local municipal public works, planning, first responders, and involved residents to please provide feedback on how traffic and crash data is utilized in making planning or road work decisions in your community.
We invite all interested parties to please share their professional perspectives in this brief 10-question survey which will help continue the work of making Berkshire County roads safer.
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Community Development & Housing
Program Manager CJ Hoss
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Berkshire County Housing Rehabilitation Program Wait List Open!
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) invites interested residents from Becket, Clarksburg, New Ashford, Sheffield, and West Stockbridge to submit their names to the Berkshire County Housing Rehabilitation Waitlist beginning immediately. Interested residents can submit their information here. BRPC will submit multiple CDBG-funded Housing Rehabilitation Program applications on behalf of the previously listed towns to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) on April 21, 2026.
The program’s wait list is open to all owner-occupied housing units with households that meet the definition of low- to moderate-income for Berkshire County, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The current income limits for each town are:
Number of People in Household & Income Limit
- 1 - $67,000
- 2 - $76,550
- 3 - $86,100
- 4 - $95,650
- 5 - $103,350
- 6 - $111,000
- 7 - $118,650
- 8 - $126,300
The type of rehabilitation work for each home will be identified through a housing inspection completed by BRPC’s Housing Inspector. Rehabilitation work typically includes new roofing, windows, addressing failing septic systems, lead paint remediation, new siding, electrical work, and more. All participating homeowners and their information are kept confidential from both the public and the applying towns. The wait list doesn’t guarantee a project, but does position the homeowner as an early applicant for funding.
If residents cannot access the link, they may email the Housing Rehabilitation Program at HousingRehab@berkshireplanning.org for more information. If you are a resident of a town outside of Becket, Clarksburg, New Ashford, Sheffield, or West Stockbridge, you may also fill out the form for a future funding cycle.
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Data & Information Services
Program Manager Mark Maloy
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Plans for High School Graduates
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) recently released updated data on the plans for high school graduates. The largest cohort of students (44.8%) plans to attend a 4-year college, with a slightly higher proportion planning to attend a public college. The percentage of graduates planning to attend a public 4-year college has increased slightly over the last decade, while those planning to attend a private 4-year college have dropped over the last two years after a decade of stability. Graduates planning to attend a 2-year college have increased over the last two years and are now at 23.9%. This increase followed over a decade of declining enrollment in 2-year colleges. This recent increase may be due to Massachusetts providing free tuition at community colleges.
The largest increase in plans for high school graduates is in those graduates planning to go directly to work. Over the last decade, it has more than doubled and is now at just over 20%. Some of this increase is due to growing enrollment in vocational high schools, but the trend extends beyond those districts and is evident in most of our districts.
When comparing Berkshire County to the state, the county shows a lower percentage attending 4-year colleges and a higher percentage attending 2-year colleges and working. More information can be found at Berkshire Benchmarks.
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Economic Development Planning
Program Manager Laura Brennan
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ArtWeek Berkshires 2026
The annual county-wide, crowd-sourced celebration of all things creative is back from May 15th through the 25th.
Attendees can enjoy 100+ hands-on or behind-the-scenes events and open studios across the region, including gallery shows and live performances, poetry readings, and painting demos.
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Environmental & Energy Planning
Program Manager Melissa Provencher
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April Showers bring Wildflowers!
For those of you tasked with an ECO One Stop Grant application – congratulations! The slog is over and we hope all of our towns get the funding they need to advance climate initiatives. Upgrade those culverts, fix/remove those dams, and mitigate that flooding!
Spring is just around the corner, nay, it’s here! And with spring, wildflowers! From the humble Skunk Cabbage which generates so much heat that is melts the snow around it to showy Bleeding Hearts which are (surprisingly) in the poppy family. As we look toward the maintenance season of our parks, roadways, and green spaces, we would encourage ourselves to think about how we can spread the joy of native wildflowers.
To that end, we'd like to highlight the Town of Monterey’s efforts. In collaboration with the Monterey Native Plants Working Group, the Town reduced mowing in some pilot locations last year to allow for more native wildflower growth along roadsides. This reduced some maintenance hours and provided more opportunities for pollinators throughout the town.
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