If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Pittsfield Seeks Input on CDBG Annual Action Plan
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield, through its Office of Community Development, is preparing to write its 2025 Annual Action Plan and 2025-2029 (5-year) Consolidated Plan, which will determine how the City allocates its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds next year and over the next five years.
CDBG funds are provided annually to the City of Pittsfield through an entitlement grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended.
The Annual Action Plan and 5-year Consolidated Plan are designed to help states and local jurisdictions assess their affordable housing and community development needs and market conditions to make data-driven, place-based investment decisions. The consolidated planning process serves as the framework for a community-wide dialogue to identify housing and community development priorities that align and focus funding from the CDBG formula block grant program.
To engage the entire community in this conversation, the City is holding a public hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Berkshire Athenaeum (1 Wendell Ave) to gather input on the City's greatest priority needs that can be addressed with CDBG funds. Additionally, an online survey is available now through Feb. 27, 2025.
It can be accessed at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RVJQRZF. The information provided will assist in the development of the 2025 Annual Action Plan and the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan. This survey should take about ten to fifteen minutes to complete.
Under federal guidelines, at least 70 percent of CDBG funds must be used to benefit low- and moderate-income individuals. Each funded activity must meet one of three national objectives:
Benefits low- and moderate-income individuals
Aids in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight
Addresses an urgent need that poses a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community, which occurred within the last 18 months and for which other funding is not available.
For questions related to the Consolidated Plan or the survey, or to request accommodations at the public hearing, please contact Nate Joyner in the Pittsfield Department of Community Development by email at njoyner@cityofpittsfield.org or by phone at (413) 499-9358.
Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey said this is great for multi-generational families and hopes that it provides some relief to the housing crisis.
click for more
While the Berkshire Carousel is no longer being offered to the city, a councilor believes it will be back to square one without local control. click for more