Common Ground E-Newsletter
| | Staff Anniversary and Announcements |
Senior Planner Seth Jenkins recently reached a milestone of 5 years as part of the BRPC team!
Seth serves on the planning staff for land use and zoning projects, training, technical assistance requests, and comprehensive planning, such as master plans and open space and recreation plans, including implementation. Thank you, Seth!
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We're Hiring!
BRPC is hiring for a full-time, on-site position focused on Community Development & Housing. We are seeking an experienced planner to partner with Berkshire County communities to address housing needs through planning, funding, and implementation.
Learn more and apply for this or other open positions at BRPC.
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The Department of Public Utilities is excited to offer various informational sessions covering topics such as the new siting and permitting regulations and the Intervenor Support Grant Program. To learn more about each upcoming webinar and register to attend, use the links provided below.
Interpretation and translation services are available upon request. To request language access accommodations, please email dpu.ej@mass.gov.
For information about future DPU events and webinars, check out the DPU Events page.
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MassEnviroScreen | Office of Environmental Justice and Equity (OEJE)
The Office of Environmental Justice and Equity (OEJE) officially launched MassEnviroScreen, a GIS-based mapping tool developed and administered by OEJE that uses indicators to produce a MassEnviroScreen Score and provide indicator data for every census block group across the Commonwealth. It is intended to support the guidance and regulations on Cumulative Impact Analysis and Site Suitability assessments.
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Housing Production Tracker | Office of Housing and Livable Communities
The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities launched the Housing Production Tracker to provide insights into housing development progress across the Commonwealth. The tool provides housing production data for every city and town in Massachusetts.
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Syncurrent | Mass Municipal Association
This new MMA tool is available to all 351 Massachusetts municipalities to easily identify, qualify for, and pursue state and federal funding opportunities.
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Clean Energy Compass
The Nature Conservancy's new Clean Energy Compass helps clean energy decision makers identify climate, conservation and community (3Cs) considerations early in the planning process. Combining an interactive map with more than 100 national-scale datasets and a practical resource hub, the Compass supports informed planning and more effective stakeholder engagement.
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MCPPO Renewal Amnesty Program
The NEW MCPPO Renewal Amnesty Program allows municipal employees with an MCPPO Designation that lapsed between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025, to re-instate their designation without having to retake the full 60-credit program. The OIG will cover the $495 tuition for the MCPPO Renewal Course for participants.
Individuals that enroll and complete the renewal course and six additional continuing education credits between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027, will be able to apply for designation renewal under this special program. The OIG will cover the cost of the renewal course under this program.
There is a limit of two participants per municipality for this program. Applicants must be authorized by their Mayor, Select Board Chair, or Town Administrator/Manager. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
More information and how to access the application can be found here.
Questions? Contact ma-igo-training@mass.gov.
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New England for All brings entrepreneurs, businesses, and community leaders together to showcase & support local businesses in the ecosystem.
A regional celebration of entrepreneurship, small business, and community.
Join on November 13, 2026, for New England for All, an immersive marketplace experience bringing together entrepreneurs, small business owners, community leaders, corporate partners, nonprofit organizations, and residents from across the region.
This inaugural event is designed to celebrate the entrepreneurs who are building our communities, create meaningful connections, and expand access to resources and opportunities that help businesses grow.
Tickets available here.
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Connect 351 is the largest conference for municipal officials in Massachusetts!
The event will be held Jan. 21-23, 2027, at the Menino Convention & Exhibition Center in Boston. This two-and-a-half-day conference includes inspiring speakers, educational workshops, member business meetings, important policy discussions, countless networking opportunities, and the largest municipal Trade Show in New England.
Online Registration is now open.
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Mosaic Municipal Matching Grant Program
Applications are being accepted for the third round of funding through the Mosaic Municipal Matching Grant Program, which will match municipal opioid settlement funds in cities and towns using best practices to end the overdose crisis.
Applications due: November 6, 2026
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Drought Resiliency and Water Efficiency Grant Program
Drought Resiliency and Water Efficiency Grant Program is a Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) initiative funding local projects that reduce water use and improve drought preparedness.
Applications Due: November 12, 2026
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One Hive Foundation Catalyst Grant
One Hive Foundation Catalyst Catalyst Grant focuses on supporting projects that advance resilient agricultural systems, protect pollinators, and accelerate meaningful, science-based change.
Applications due: December 1, 2026
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Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program
The LWCF grant program provides financial assistance to municipalities and the state’s Departments of Conservation and Recreation and Fish and Game for the acquisition of parkland, development of a new park, renovation of an existing park, development of trails in an existing conservation or recreation area, or the acquisition of conservation land. Grants up to $1,000,000 are available this grant round.
Deadline: January 5, 2027
Two information sessions will be held:
Please RSVP to Melissa Cryan to attend either session. When you RSVP, specify which you will be attending.
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Intervenor Support Grant Program
The Massachusetts Intervenor Support Grant Program provides financial assistance to eligible community groups, municipalities, and advocates participating in Department of Public Utilities (DPP) or Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) proceedings.
Applications Due: June 30, 2027
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2027 Cybersecurity Awareness Grant Program Now Open
The Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS) is now being accepted for the 2027 Municipal Cybersecurity Awareness Grant Program.
This valuable program is available at no cost to all local government agencies, including Housing Authorities, and PERAC Retirement Systems members.
Please visit OMST's website for a comprehensive description of the Cybersecurity Awareness Program. Applications are rolling and can submitted here.
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Community Health Equity Survey (CHES)
Taking the Community Health Equity Survey (CHES) helps make sure that the needs and priorities of your community show up in the data. Your anonymous answers to this survey will show what helps communities be healthy and what makes it harder. Questions can be skipped but be sure to enter your community information, so Berkshire is counted.
Across Massachusetts, decisions are made every day about community needs, priorities, solutions, and resources. Your survey answers will help shape those decisions. The data inform how the Department of Public Health (DPH) and other state agencies spend money, develop programs and provide services.
Your survey information can tell DPH what your priorities are, helping your community get the resources it wants and needs. DPH and other state agencies have used this data to:
- Apply for and distribute funding
- Inform programs
- Prioritize outreach to communities in need
You are the expert in what makes your community healthy. When you take the survey, you are sharing your values, needs, and hopes for the future.
- Driven by community members’ experiences, survey data helps local organizations advocate for equitable policies, apply for funding to meet local needs, and tailor programs to best serve their communities. At the state level, survey data helps to quantify health and social needs unique to different communities, identify opportunities to address inequities, and prioritize how resources are allocated.
The Community Health Equity Survey uplifts groups that have often been underrepresented in important ways, like in data about their health and well-being. By taking the survey, you are adding your experience and expertise, guaranteeing that your community is represented.
- Massachusetts is working to ensure that communities previously underrepresented or invisible in data and decision-making have a voice.
- It’s important to capture the experiences and the impact of current policies and actions on your community and those most at risk.
Take the Community Health Equity Survey today.
To be counted, the survey requires minimum sample sizes. Increase our numbers. Be counted. Your family, friends, and neighbors will thank you. All survey responses and data are anonymous, and data that is shared is combined with all responses from an area or demographic.
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Southern Berkshire Bike Path
The Southern Berkshire Bike Path (SBBP) is a proposed shared-use (biking and walking) path that would create one continuous, logical route from Pittsfield to the Connecticut border, linking town centers across southern Berkshire County with high-quality cycling and walking infrastructure.
The Final Southern Berkshire Bike Path Feasibility Study Report is available for download.
Any questions or comments, please email Nicholas Russo.
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Marking World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
Join BRPC and the City of Pittsfield on Sunday, November 15th at 12pm to recognize World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, a collaborative effort between many national and local advocacy organizations. It is held as a time to remember victims and their families whose lives have been altered by losing a loved one in a traffic crash.
While remembering the victims of crashes, it is also important to celebrate the victories made in making streets safer for all. In this spirit, the event in Pittsfield will be held on West Street to tour the recently completed road reconstruction between Francis Ave and Backman Ave. Three years ago, advocates walked the street to push for change after Shaloon Milord was struck and killed while crossing the street, and her young daughter was injured. After many rounds of outreach and design from the City of Pittsfield Department of Public Services, West Street received a complete streets makeover and the installation of a traffic signal at the “West and West Street” intersection that was notorious for bottlenecks and dangerous crossing conditions.
So far this year, there have been 40 severe crashes in Berkshire County according to RMV data. Six of these were deadly. This is a reduction from the previous year to date, with 56 severe crashes, including 8 fatalities. In comparison to this date in 2024, there were 48 severe crashes with 9 fatalities. As we see fatalities slowly trending down, we still recognize that even one loss is too many.
If you or someone you know has been affected by a traffic crash, or if you would like to see all the new components of the West Street reconstruction project up close, please join us on Sunday, November 15th at noon starting at Dorothy Amos Park. The tour will end at the Francis Ave “pocket park” at the top of the staircase near Government Drive. If you are not able to do stairs, you are welcome to break off early and drive around to the park via Dewey Ave and Division Street. The total walking distance will be a little over a half mile.
More information on the event can be found here.
Heavy rain will reschedule to the following Sunday, November 22nd.
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CPTC Workshops Open for Registration
- Site Plan Review, Monday, November 30, 2026, 5:30PM
- Use of Design Review, Tuesday, December 1, 2026, 5:30PM
- Roles & Responsibilities of Planning & Zoning Boards, Thursday, December 10, 2026, 6PM
- Creating Master Plans, Wednesday, January 6, 2027, 5:30PM
- Introduction to Subdivision Control Law/ANR, Thursday, January 21, 2027, 5:30PM
All workshops are via Zoom and are 1-2 hours long. Handouts are provided by email. The fee is $35.
Register for the workshops.
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Data & Information Services
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Berkshires Outside
BRPC will soon begin reviewing and updating the assets on BerkshiresOutside. If you manage a recreation site, sell or rent gear, are a guide, or manage an outdoor sports league, take a look at the site and let us know if anything needs updating. We have acrylic placards that asset owners and retailers can get from us to hang at their property, as well as brochure rack cards available if you have a spot to distribute them.
Last year, BerkshiresOutside saw over 205,000 visits among over 102,000 unique users. If you are not already familiar with BerkshiresOutside, spend a few minutes exploring it and let us know what you think.
For more information, contact Mark Maloy.
| | | | Economic Development Planning | |
Berkshire Funding Focus (BFF) is ready to help you and your community
Berkshire Funding Focus supports Berkshire County entities - including municipalities, schools, non-profits, and small businesses - seeking federal and state grants, as well as foundation funds, to build organizational and sector capacity for the long term.
BFF's services include:
Curating – we scour state and federal funding announcements, posting high-value opportunities to our website and sending ones of likely interest to your inbox.
Building Capacity – we offer regular training programs to help potential applicants develop grant writing and grant management skills.
Convening – we bring together potential partners to explore collaborative proposals and offer guidance on making them more competitive.
Consulting – we are here to help answer your questions and help you navigate government grant solicitations, contracts, and compliance and reporting requirements.
Berkshire Funding Focus is an initiative housed at Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, and serving the whole county. For more information, visit berkshirefundingfocus.org,
then email Karen Pelto at kpelto@berkshireplanning.org.
| | | | Environmental & Energy Planning | |
The Infrastructure We Rarely Think About
Infrastructure has a bit of a thankless job. When everything works, nobody notices. When something fails, everybody has an opinion. November's Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month gives us a good excuse to appreciate the work that usually goes unnoticed, including some happening right here in the Berkshires.
Consider the roads we travel every day. A culvert beneath the pavement might seem insignificant until heavy rainfall overwhelms it, washing out a road or cutting off critical access. BRPC has worked with municipalities throughout Berkshire County for years to assess culverts and plan improvements. Building on that work, a new regional project will assess approximately 400 culverts and small bridges in Cheshire, Sheffield, Dalton, Hinsdale, and Lee, helping towns identify which crossings need attention first. The project is funded through the state's Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program, which helps communities prepare for the impacts of climate change.
The region's waterways deserve attention, too. Hidden along our streams are remnants of old dams, many of which are forgotten or missing from official records, earning them the nickname "ghost dams." These structures can increase flood risks and disrupt aquatic habitats. BRPC and its partners are working to locate and assess these structures as part of the MVP-funded Ghost Dams project, helping inform future restoration efforts.
Energy is equally important. BRPC's Green Communities and Municipal Energy Manager programs help towns and school districts identify energy-saving opportunities, secure funding, and improve public buildings. These investments can lower operating costs and make better use of limited municipal budgets.
For years, BRPC has helped Berkshire municipalities prepare for natural hazards by developing and updating Hazard Mitigation Plans. These plans identify local risks and recommend ways to reduce potential damage, with Sandisfield among the communities we're currently assisting. In Northern Berkshire, our regional MVP 2.0 project is bringing residents and municipal leaders from Adams, Lanesborough, North Adams, and Williamstown together to explore how climate change affects their communities and decide where action is needed most.
Much of this work begins with a simple question: Where are we most vulnerable, and what can we do about it?
What about your community? Are there roads that frequently flood, aging facilities in need of improvements, or infrastructure concerns that deserve attention? Identifying potential problems early can open the door to planning assistance, technical expertise, and funding opportunities.
BRPC's Environmental & Energy Program helps municipalities assess these needs and explore practical solutions. If your community has a project in mind or isn't sure where to start, reach out to our team. We'd be happy to talk.
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