Pittsfield Shares profiles of ARPA Recipients

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city of Pittsfield shared a new series of profiles of the 37 non-profit organizations that were awarded American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. 
 
The City of Pittsfield received $40.6 million dollars in federal funding as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. This funding has been used to create new housing options ($8.6 million), address negative impacts from the pandemic ($6.5 million), make infrastructure improvements ($6.6 million), invest in public health ($4.9 million) and to offset lost revenue ($2.2 million).
 
$8.8 million dollars of ARPA funding was awarded to 37 non-profit organizations that serve Pittsfield residents and small businesses. These community partners have worked to help achieve the city's mission of creating a city where people are able to live up to their greatest potential, achieve prosperity and experience health, well-being, and joy. These profiles highlight the deep impact of the pandemic while showcasing the significance of working together to help support people who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by racial inequity and generational poverty.
 
"Amazing work is being done by all 37 of the city's community partners," said Deanna Ruffer, ARPA Special Projects Co-Manager. "Together, these organizations have helped hundreds of people throughout the city, many of whom were severely affected by the pandemic. The profiles raise awareness about this work and let others know about the resources available."
 
Five community partners have been profiled to date including South Community Food Pantry, George B. Crane Memorial Center, Berkshire Dream Center, Berkshire Family YMCA and Berkshire Civic Ballet.
 
The city released the sixth profile, highlighting the work of Arts in Recovery for Youth (AIRY).
 
"These profiles capture the story of how the organization experienced the impact of the pandemic and how they built up their services and programs with ARPA funding to support Pittsfield residents in a variety of ways. It is important for the community to know that these funded projects are working to help build resiliency and address the needs we often talk about such as childcare, mental health, job training, etc.," said Gina Armstrong, ARPA Special Projects Co-Manager.
 
New profiles will be shared at least bi-monthly on the city's website: ARPA Community Partner Profiles.

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Letter: Is the Select Board Listening to Dalton Voters?

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

A reasonable expectation by the people of a community is that their Select Board rises above personal preference and represents the collective interests of the community. On Tuesday night [Nov. 12], what occurred is reason for concern that might not be true in Dalton.

This all began when a Select Board member submitted his resignation effective Oct. 1 to the Town Clerk. Wishing to fill the vacated Select Board seat, in good faith I followed the state law, prepared a petition, and collected the required 200-plus signatures of which the Town Clerk certified 223. The Town Manager, who already had a copy of the Select Board member's resignation, was notified of the certified petitions the following day. All required steps had been completed.

Or had they? At the Oct. 9 Select Board meeting when Board members discussed the submitted petition, there was no mention about how they were informed of the petition or that they had not seen the resignation letter. Then a month later at the Nov. 12 Select Board meeting we learn that providing the resignation letter and certified petitions to the Town Manager was insufficient. However, by informing the Town Manager back in October the Select Board had been informed. Thus, the contentions raised at the Nov. 12 meeting by John Boyle seem like a thinly veiled attempt to delay a decision until the end of January deadline to have a special election has passed.

If this is happening with the Special Election, can we realistically hope that the present Board will listen to the call by residents to halt the rapid increases in spending and our taxes that have been occurring the last few years and pass a level-funded budget for next year, or to not harness the taxpayers in town with the majority of the cost for a new police station? I am sure these issues are of concern to many in town. However, to make a change many people need to speak up.

Please reach out to a Select Board member and let them know you are concerned and want the Special Election issue addressed and finalized at their Nov. 25 meeting.

Robert E.W. Collins
Dalton, Mass.

 

 

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