December 2024

• BRPC Executive Committee Meeting - December 5 at 4 pm
• BRPC Commission Meeting - January 16 at 7 pm

• Public Health Community Social Worker

BPRC welcomes Michaela Grady, a Housing Planner with two years of experience as the CDBG coordinator for the City of Westfield. During her time in Westfield, she also assisted in securing a Vacant Storefront District and Cultural District. She has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University.

Michaela has a passion for public service and helping populations in need. She is a Pittsfield native and is excited to be working on projects that will benefit the community where she grew up. Contact Michaela at mgrady@berkshireplanning.org

Mass Cultural Council/Mass Development - Cultural Facilities Fund

Grants to support the acquisition, design, repair, rehabilitation, renovation, expansion, or construction of nonprofit cultural facilities. Nonprofit cultural organizations, municipalities, and colleges or universities that own or lease cultural facilities are eligible to apply. Grants range from $7,000 to $200,000. 

Applications open October 10th and close December 19th. Learn More HERE.

EPA's Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling - Grants for Communities

The Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling program provides grants to implement the National Recycling Strategy to improve post-consumer materials management and infrastructure, support improvements to local post-consumer materials management and recycling programs, and assist local waste management authorities in improving their waste management systems. 

Learn more and access application materials HERE. Applications due by December 20th.

Community Wildfire Defense Grants (CWDG) help communities and Tribes plan for and reduce wildfire risk and implement the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy.

Launched in 2022, the $1 billion five-year competitive grant program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law prioritizes communities that are in an area identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential, are low-income, OR, have been impacted by a severe disaster within the previous 10 years that increased wildfire risk and/or hazard. 

Funds can be used to:

• Develop and revise Community Wildfire Protection Plans 
• Implement projects described in a Community Wildfire Protection Plan that are less than ten years old.

Applications are due on February 28, 2025. Learn more HERE.

Community Compact Grant Programs

Community Compact IT Grant Program - competitive program focused on driving innovation and transformation at the local level via investments in technology. The application period runs from January 6 to noon on February 6, 2025. Municipalities awarded in FY24 are not eligible.

The Municipal Fiber Grant Program is a competitive, matching grant program to assist municipalities with the construction of municipal fiber broadband infrastructure and related projects and expenditures. The application period is from March 10 to noon on April 10, 2025.

If you have any questions, contact Sean Cronin, Senior Deputy Commissioner of Local Services.

Cyber Resilient Massachusetts Grant Program - The Mass Cyber Center

Municipalities in Massachusetts are eligible to receive a one-time grant of up to $25,000 to support cybersecurity improvements based on a vulnerability assessment conducted by a qualified provider. Respondents may apply grant funding towards the cost of vendors to implement the cybersecurity improvements or IT-related staff costs of the municipality performing the services in lieu of using a vendor.

Applications are rolling, reviewed quarterly. Access more information, including an informational webinar recording and the application documents, HERE.

Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources Climate Leader Communities Decarbonization Technical Support and Accelerator grants help cities and towns plan and implement energy efficiency and emissions reduction.

Accelerator grant applicants must be a municipality that is an existing, certified Climate Leader Community. Learn more HERE.

Technical Support grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis through June 30, 2027. Learn more HERE.

Overwhelmed? Reach out to your BFF (Berkshire Funding Focus) for help navigating grant applications! Take a look at additional grant opportunities and resources on our website: www.berkshirefundingfocus.org.

The Operational Services Division of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will be hosting:

Introduction to Statewide Contracts and Available Resources Training

The goal is to expand your understanding of Statewide Contracts and to train you on the

state's online resources. The class will consist of a presentation of the benefits and uses of Statewide Contracts, with OSD presenters highlighting the most commonly used Statewide Contracts, as well as contracts of interest to Regional Planning Agency buyers.

Class highlights will include Accessing Statewide Contract resources, including the Statewide Contract Index, Contract User Guides for each contract, Vendor Lookup, and Tradesperson Index. Students will learn how to navigate the COMMBUYS landing page, access State documents, search for goods and services, and learn the steps to make a Punchout purchase through COMMBUYS, the state's e-procurement system. The presentation will be informal with time for discussion of the buying process and Q&A.

Wednesday, December 11th at 11 am - Virtual Session

To attend this Zoom session, please register HERE.

Connect 351 - the MMA Annual Meeting & Trade Show has a new name!

The 2025 MMA conference will be held January 23-25 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, and will include:

• A range of informative and timely workshops
• Compelling and inspiring speakers
• A general business meeting and important policy discussions
• A robust Trade Show featuring the latest services and solutions for cities and towns

Registration is available HERE, and more information about the conference can be found here:

https://www.mma.org/connect-351/

Citizen Planner Training Collaborative - Fall/Winter Workshops Now Live

Citizen Planner Training Collaborative (CPTC) training workshops started in early November. Sessions will continue through mid-January. Available sessions include Roles and Responsibilities of Planning and Zoning Boards, Drafting Zoning Amendments, Writing Reasonable and Defensible Decisions, and more! Sessions are virtual, occur in the evening, and cost $35. 

For more information: https://masscptc.org/index.php/training/webinar-series/ 

Western Massachusetts Conference in Greenfield is Cancelled 

The previously advertised Western Massachusetts CPTC Conference at Greenfield Community College on December 7, 2024, is canceled. CPTC’s Annual Conference at Holy Cross College in Worcester will occur on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Please visit https://masscptc.org for more information. 

Presentation regarding the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) provisions of Affordable Homes Act

Representatives from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) as well as a representative from the Attorney General’s Office, presented the Accessory Dwelling Unit provisions of the Massachusetts omnibus housing bill, The Affordable Homes Act, passed earlier this year and answered questions during a recent meeting of BRPC's Commission, held virtually and in-person at the new Greylock Glen Outdoor Center on November 21st.

Slides from the presentation can be viewed HERE.

Accessory Dwelling Units Update 

The Attorney General’s Office Municipal Law Unit is the final stop for zoning amendments approved at Town Meetings. The Municipal Law Unit is required to review bylaws for consistency with state law and previously established case law. Multiple communities have passed Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) zoning bylaws this fall that are under review by the Municipal Law Unit. Once decisions are filed, they become publicly available here: 

https://massago.hylandcloud.com/231publicaccess/MLU.html 

BRPC will also circulate decisions once they are available for review.

American Community Survey Release

On December 12th, the U.S. Census Bureau will release the latest American Community Survey (ACS) findings from 2019-2023, offering insights into the region’s social, economic, and housing landscapes. This annual release benefits policymakers, researchers, and anyone curious about the dynamic changes shaping our communities. From demographic profiles to trends in education, employment, and housing, the ACS data provides an unparalleled snaptop of the region’s evolving story. The data will be accessible at data.census.gov. Mark your calendars and prepare to dive into the most comprehensive data set of the year. For more information, contact Mark Maloy at mmaloy@berkshireplanning.org.

Massachusetts 250 website and field guide

On September 17th, Constitution Day, Governor Healey officially kicked off the Massachusetts 250 campaign on the steps in front of the Massachusetts State House. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in 2025, the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) will encourage visitors and residents to participate in events, reenactments, and celebrations highlighting the state's revolutionary history.

The website www.massachusetts250.org serves as the front door for all semi-quincentennial events. Your community's events and attractions can be added directly to the website - include a photo or image to be listed.

The MA250 Field Guide provides information about how organizations and communities can engage with MA250. It includes implementing tours and trails, Revolutionary Weekends, educational programs, MA250 logo guidelines, MA250 Themes, and a 1774-1776 Timeline of the Revolution in Massachusetts.

Sign up for the MA250 Industry Newsletter to receive information about available grants related to the celebration.

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) - call for NEW Priority Projects

The CEDS Committee is now accepting submissions of NEW Priority Projects for potential inclusion in the 2025 Annual Report. Submissions are due no later than March 31, 2025. Please use this form to provide the committee with information about your proposal:

 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CEDS_Priority_Projects_FY25

Submissions will be considered for inclusion in the 2025 Performance Progress Report, our yearly update to the 2023-2027 CEDS for Berkshire County. Regional CEDS are submitted to and approved by the Economic Development Administration (EDA).

MA Department of Ecological Restoration - Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Program

This fiscal year, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has committed over $6.5 million to support culvert replacement projects through the Dept. of Ecological Restoration's Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Program (CRMA). Our county received over $900,000 to help eight towns fray the cost of field assessment, engineering, permitting and replacement of failing culverts. Larger structures will be better equipped to accommodate increased storms due to climate change and improve fish and wildlife passage. However, the cost of replacement is often prohibitive as so many culverts in our region increase above the consequential 10-foot span that graduates a crossing to a small bridge requiring additional requirements in order to meet stream crossing standards. 

BRPC has been working to address the need by assisting Towns with funding and project support through MVP grants, DER Berkshire Clean, Cold, and Connect Partnership funding, and DER's CRMA. DER is now scheduling Expression of Interest calls for culvert replacement and removal projects for FY26. This is an opportunity to schedule a 30-minute call with DER staff to understand more about the program and hone your culvert replacement project for the greatest success in your application. To schedule a call with DER staff, fill out the Project Inquiry Form before January 10th.

BRPC can help with project scoping, planning, and application. Contact Courteny Morehouse at cmorehouse@berkshireplanning.org, or 413.442.1521 x26, if you're interested in working with BRPC on any element of the project. 

Food Systems in a Changing Climate

I think it’s safe to say that most of us are on the same page when it comes to the changes occurring in our climate. The reality we are facing is no longer a question of if things are changing but more a matter of what that will look like, how it will affect our lives, and what we can do about it?

In my relatively brief time here I have learned that the core of public health is preventative measures, looking upstream. While it remains true, the bigger conversation is about how to alter our habits which are causing the change, we also must deal with the real impacts already upon us. This is particularly evident when it comes to our food supply. This may feel more reactionary than preventative, but if we can get ahead by anticipating the specific negative impacts on existing systems, we can at least be more prepared to manage the impact on our lives.

In my time working in the food industry, I was fortunate to be in a place like the Berkshires which allowed me to have a direct relationship with much of my food sourcing. When I first started, there was a huge push to source locally; terms like slow food and farm-to-table were just beginning to really hit mainstream thinking. I spent a lot of time on farms, building relationships, understanding seasonality, witnessing the amount of work required, and learning just how fragile and precious a healthy local food system is. While our changing climate is having an impact on so much of our lives, I feel particularly sensitive to its impact on food systems. Not only because I genuinely love food, preparing it, and sharing it with others, but because I have spent time understanding where our food comes from, and I know how many people’s lives depend on their ability and commitment to produce it for us.

At the recent MHOA conference, I attended a presentation addressing some of the impacts that climate change is having on our food systems. Three primary areas were identified: food production, food access, and food quality. The presenters gave specific examples of issues currently being experienced in the industry...

READ MORE from Jazu Stine, Public Health Food Specialist

MABPAB and Local Transportation Updates

On November 20th, the Massachusetts Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Board (MABPAB) held its final meeting of 2024 at the Berkshire Innovation Center. BRPC joined attendees from MassDOT, communities from across the state, and various community and civic organizations such as MassBike and the Berkshire Bike Path Council in a discussion about how to best serve the needs of bicyclists, pedestrians, and vulnerable road users locally and throughout Massachusetts. While many topics were discussed, the following will be of interest to Berkshire residents:

MassDOT has announced that starting in 2025, all Regional Transit Authorities—including the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA)—will eliminate fares for riders and make other public transportation services completely FREE year-round. This change marks the success of years of successful pilot programs throughout the state and country and will ideally encourage increased ridership.

Pittsfield is preparing for numerous construction projects next year, many of which will incorporate or improve pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. These upgrades are planned as part of the reconstruction of East Street and is in development for North Street. In addition, the Safe Streets and Roads for All program, administered by BRPC, will be finalizing its action plan for public release in early 2025, which will be an invaluable resource in addressing the region’s most unsafe intersections and streets. Public feedback and comments are encouraged and will be accepted until December 2nd on www.berkshiresteps.org.

Trails throughout the Berkshires are being planned, and more are opened each year. In November, the second extension into Pittsfield was officially opened. The Lee Bikeway is also currently being developed and is anticipated to open in 2029. Finally, the Adventure Trail, which will connect North Adams and Williamstown, has been deemed a “Project of Merit” for the federal RAISE Grant program and will be reconsidered for funding in January for the next round of awards.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission

www.berkshireplanning.org