Berkshires Gets $4.3M in CDBG Grants

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshires is getting $4.3 million Community Development Block Grants for housing, road and social services programs. 
 
Gov. Maura Healey announced some $39 million in CDBG grant awards to 65 communities at Chelsea City Hall on Thursday. 
 
Among the awardees: Becket and Dalton: $999,810 for the purpose of rehabilitating 14 housing units; Great Barrington, Egremont and Stockbridge: $1,375,000 for the purpose of rehabilitating 16 housing units; Lenox and Lee: $1,000,000 for the purpose of rehabilitating 11 housing units; and North Adams: $925,000 to support 2024 road improvements, senior center improvements (Phase III), and provide social services (youth services, meal delivery, youth literacy).
 
The CDBG Program is designed to help small cities and towns meet a broad range of community development needs, such as housing, community, and economic development projects that assist low-and moderate-income residents or revitalize areas of blight. Communities may apply alone, or multiple communities may join and apply together.    
 
"Our cities and towns use these Community Development Block Grants to fix their roadways, expand their housing options, and improve the quality of life they offer their residents," said Healey. "Our administration is grateful to the Biden administration, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and our federal delegation for their work, and we are thrilled to see how this grant funding will positively impact our local communities. 
 
"We know how important it is to invest in our communities, and these CDBG awards, combined with our Affordable Homes Act, will help us move forward with our commitment to making Massachusetts
 more competitive, affordable, and equitable."  
 
 

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Dalton Select Board Approves Research into EV Charging Stations

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board expressed its support in continuing to research the prospect of installing level three electric vehicle fast charging stations in town. 
 
During its meeting earlier this month, Green Committee member Tony Pagliarulo gave a presentation by Connecticut solar energy company Earthlight Technologies. 
 
"We have no fast chargers in Berkshire County other than the Tesla banks down in South County. So fast chargers are really the future. I mean, you're going to charge up in 30 to 40 minutes, and then you're on your way," Pagliarulo said. 
 
Due to the number of tax credits and incentives available for the town the insulation of these stations would make the town money, he said. 
 
The total cost of installing the charging stations at Pinegrove would be about $167,000, but the town would receive a $145,000 utility incentive, so it would only have to pay $22,044.08. 
 
This amount would be split into two payments of about $11,000, to be paid in the middle and the conclusion of the project. 
 
However, at the end of the tax year, following the completion of the project, the town will be credited $50,188.89 because it is entitled to 30 percent of the total cost under the Inflation Reduction Act. 
 
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