 BRPC to Present Draft Safety Action PlanBerkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) has been developing the STEPS Initiative: the Safe Travel and Equity Plan for our Streets and will be releasing the draft Action Plan for public review and comment on Nov. 4, 2024.  BRPC Outlines Busy Year Addressing Region's NeedsThe regional planning agency closed fiscal year 2024 with a revenue increase of nearly $858,000 over the previous year, and a total income of more than $6.9 million from grants, local organizations, and nonprofit agreements. Berkshire County Awarded Fair Share FundsIn Berkshire County the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission will receive $49,649 to develop a safety action plan. BRPC Kicks Off Road Safety Action Plan with Public Information SessionsThree opportunities to participate during June, either in-person or virtually BRPC Invites Applications to the Home Modification Loan Program0 percent interest loans available to qualifying households Berkshire Planning Commission Approves 'Conservative' FY25 BudgetBerkshire Regional Planning Commission has a "conservative" budget for fiscal year 2025 with a nearly 6 percent increase.  BRPC's Public Health Program Announces Recent HiresThe BRPC Public Health Program supports Berkshire County and its municipalities in areas including emergency preparedness and response, substance use prevention and harm reduction, community health planning and education, climate resilience, and infectious and chronic disease prevention. Regional Planning Commission Calls for Fixes to Site Plan Review BillThe regional planning commission's community planning program manager told the executive committee that HB 3551 was worth passing even if all the changes proposed by the municipal lawyers association do not make it into the final version of the bill. BRPC Hopes to Implement Mental Health and Substance Abuse Programs in CBRSDThis year the commission is eligible to apply for the MassCall3B grant through the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services and would like to bring its programming to the Central Berkshire Regional School District.  Berkshire Census Shows Small, Aging But More Diverse PopulationMore than 63 percent of Berkshire County residents self-responded and the remaining were visited by Census takers and eventually subject to an administrative records review. Berkshire Benchmarks Releases State of the County UpdateThe purpose of the Benchmarks initiative and report is to highlight the region's successes and challenges. Berkshire Planning Commission Budget Up 16% for FY24Berkshire Regional Planning Commission's proposed budget has increased by more than $886,000, or about 16.4 percent, largely due to several new grants. Berkshire Planning Commission Responds to Open Meeting ComplaintLee resident Joshua Bloom found issues with agenda items and the Executive Committee meeting's lack of public comment. Berkshire Planning Commission, Senator Talk Rural AffairsThe position, which is housed in the Executive Office of Economic Development, will cultivate rural economic development and coordinate with secretariats and state agencies to ensure that state government is attuned to the unique needs of rural communities. Berkshire Planning Commission Examines Municipal Staffing IssuesThe committee has been discussing community sustainability for some time and its last meeting developed a strategy to determine how hard it was for towns to fill positions.  Regional Economic Plan Made More Accessible to PublicThe CEDS committee has created a video, story map, and short summary plan to improve accessibility to the plan. County Planners Seek Options to Limited Municipal Labor PoolIf the communities invest in recruiting and training candidates from their area starting in high school and college the region could provide a steady supply of employees over time, Matuszko said. BRPC to Receive $50K National Endowment for the Arts GrantThis grant will support the Creative Compact for Collaborative and Collective Impact (C4) Initiative. BCC and BRPC Offer Free 'Choke Saver' Training CertificationThe 75-minute class provides participants with a two-year certification. Berkshire Planning Commission Talks Housing, Workforce AdvocacyHe pointed out that Gov.-elect Maura Healey and Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Driscoll have announced the formation of transition policy committees and said it is important to advocate for county priorities when Healey and Driscoll take office. |
