ADAMS, Mass. — The town of Adams has been selected to receive a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help assess properties in the Route 8 Corridor.
"Like many other former New England Mill communities, our industrial heritage is within the most visible part of a community," Town Administrator Jay Green said. "For Adams, it is critical for us to invest in and encourage private investment in those properties that are visible in our entrance gateways. Investors and developers want to invest in a community that is willing to take on these challenges and work with them to return these properties to the tax rolls."
Adams was one of 14 communities in the state to receive part of the $8,740,000 in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs.
The communitywide grant funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments, complete a brownfields site inventory, and conduct community engagement activities.
Green said although the funds cannot be used for the physical cleanup, they will help address site assessments. He said these assessments are costly and need to be done before any development work can take place.
"The cost of re-developing our properties is expensive in the Berkshires. This is especially true with former industrial properties," he said. "We are often asked, 'Does the town have any money to invest in helping develop this property?' Municipalities generally do not have funds available to do so. We will now be able to use these funds to help kick-start development by funding required environmental assessments."
Green said the town does have some flexibility in what projects it can address, however, they have highlighted a few priority projects.
"Part of the town's Economic Development Strategy is to ensure that commercial properties can be developed into revenue-generating properties rather than sitting idle or deteriorating," he said. "We spend time with potential developers/property owners to see where town government can help. This grant can be a tool to help encourage a developer to choose Adams because this grant can lower their environmental assessment costs. Alternatively, if the property is owned by the town, it will help us get the property back onto the tax rolls where it belongs."
The grant will be used to address former industrial properties, a former cotton manufacturing company, and a former retail facility.
Green said the town will issue a request for proposals (RFP) to solicit responses for qualified vendors to execute the work. This should be issued sometime in the late summer or early fall. Once the procurement process is complete and a vendor has been selected, the actual work will begin.
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Cheshire Gears Up for 2nd Annual Summer Festival
By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Cheshire Community Association (CCA) is set to host the 2nd annual Cheshire Summer Festival this coming July 27.
"With this being our 10th year of block parties / festivals, we've seen how impactful bringing folks together for a good time can be," CCA President John Tremblay said in an email exchange. "Witnessing lots of smiling, happy people is always a testament to the value."
Scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Cheshire Community House Grounds, the festival offers an array of entertainment for all ages. Headlining the festival is Whiskey City and there will also be a performance by It's Magic during intermission.
There will also be activities for children like face painting and balloon tying.
For those seeking friendly competition, the Cheshire Cornhole Cup also returns.
Ozzie's Food Truck and Diane's Twist Ice Cream will offer food snacks for purchase throughout the event. Festival-goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.
The Selectmen on Wednesday voted to enter negotiations with an Agawam catering company to operate food service at the Greylock Glen's outdoor center. click for more
More than three dozen members of the Kolis family stretching across at least three generations on Saturday celebrated 100 years in the home their dziadziu and babci built. click for more
Gratitude was the theme of Northern Berkshire Community Coalition's 38th annual meeting on Friday morning but there was a heavy dose of collaboration as well. click for more
Partners CJ Garner and Marcus Lyon hope locals and visitors alike will feel at home here, where their take on "modern American comfort food" has already found a solid base of regulars in its five weeks of operation. click for more
Firefighters were working in difficult conditions — hot muggy weather in the 90s and a torrential rainstorm that turned Commercial Street into a river right after the call came in.
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