$25 Million Broadband Access Initiative Announced

Officials gathered in front of Town Hall this morning to announce the $25 million Broadband Incentive Fund.

BECKET, Mass. — Members of the Berkshire delegation joined key Patrick administration officials at Town Hall this morning to announce a new initiative aimed at providing high-speed Internet service to underserved and unserved towns in the commonwealth by a 2010 target.

"Today's announcement is not only about bridging the digital divide; it's about bringing new economic development opportunities into every neighborhood. This area, along with too many areas in Massachusetts, have frequently felt like they were in the breakdown lane of the information superhighway and in some communities it's even worse than that -- they may be prevented from even getting on the on-ramp," said Stan McGee, the state's director of wireless and broadband development.

"Right now, we have 32 towns in Massachusetts without any broadband whatsoever and 63 that are underserved. Frankly, that's not acceptable in a state based on a knowledge economy," McGee continued.

The $25 million Broadband Incentive Fund focuses on developing public and private partnerships in communities throughout the state that do not have broadband access. Managed by a special division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, the fund will enable the state to use up to $25 million toward for broadband infrastructure tools like conduits, fiber and wireless towers, which the Patrick administration hopes will spur private investments.

State Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lenox, said affordable, accessible broadband would tremendously impact his constituents.

"I can think of no bigger economic development tool than this effort that is being launched here today," said Pignatelli.

Pignatelli used an anecdote that starred an Egremont resident to illustrate the importance of moving forward with the initiative.

"Last night, at 11 [p.m.], a constituent of mine in Egremont hit send on the computer to file necessary paperwork with the Department of Revenue. At 7:30 this morning, on her dial-up network, it was still going," he said. "Next year or the year after, my constituent in Egremont won't have the same problem."

State Rep. Denis Guyer, D-Dalton, said the installation of universal broadband will connect the entire state.

"The kids who go to school in Becket and the business owners in Becket and the residents in Becket deserve the same economic opportunities as people in Boston," he said.

Also on hand were State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, state Rep. Daniel Bosley, D-North Adams, Donald Dubendorf, president of Berkshire Connect Inc., state Rep. Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington, Daniel O'Connell, the state's secretary of housing and economic development, Sharon E. Gillett, the new commissioner of the Department of Telecommunications and Cable, Deputy Director for MTC and Director of the John Adams Innovation Institute Patrick Larkin and Linda Dunlavy of Pioneer Valley Connect.

"To be viable and competitive in the information age, we must commit to invest in the infrastructure needed to serve every student, every business, and every home in the Commonwealth. With this announcement, we lay the plans to do just that. The ripple effects from this will touch every corner of every community in Western Massachusetts," said Downing.

New Pittsfield Mural Designed With Student Input Unveiled

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:10PM / Wednesday, August 12, 2026

The Common Wealth Murals team. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new mural is welcoming the community in the downtown area.

The ribbon cutting was held on First Friday to unveil the mural on the ADLib building at 215 North St.

Designed by Boston-based artist Ruby Rose, it was created in collaboration with AdLib, Common Wealth Murals, Mill Town Foundation, Let It Shine!, Pittsfield Public Schools, and local artists, students, and community members.

"We start by talking with the community about what do you want to see in the mural, what do you want this mural to be about, how do you want to be represented with this piece of public art, and then a designer takes all that input and creates a design," said Common Wealth Murals Executive Director Britt Ruhe.

Ruhe's team went into four schools: Conte Community, Crosby Elementary, Reid Middle, and Herberg Middle. They trained the art teachers, one from each school, in how to gather student input for mural design. 

But not only did the input go into the mural downtown but also back into their school. Each school chose a different designer, so murals for the four schools will all look distinct.

Students provided verbal and written comments and made drawings. Teachers and students then painted panels in class, which are now being detailed and will be installed back in the schools.

Ruhe said the students showed a lot of love for their city.

"It was really striking to me because we work with schools in Springfield and other places. The kids in Pittsfield love their town, love their city," she said. "They name specific parks and specific restaurants and specific places they love to go, and they really talked a lot about being out in community with their families and friends, and so that really comes through." 

Their murals are produced as "paint-by-number" style fabric panels, so community members can physically participate in painting. The community came together for the July First Friday to help.

"Those community gatherings are a place where, when you're standing around a table, working with people you don't know that in the normal course of events you may never speak with, you find yourself just in easy, natural conversation with people because you're all working towards something," said Ruhe. "So we really believe and hope that people can look at something like this and say, look what we made together.

"If we can make this together, what else can we do together? So we hope it's a seed for a community coming together to tell their stories, to plant their hopes for the future, and to really feel grounded in where they live."

Self, an artist and Common Wealth Murals project manager, said they were very welcomed and it was nice to see that the mural reflects the values of the community.

"I think it's beautiful, and I think it's a beautiful reflection of what the Pittsfield community holds value in, and you can just see a lot of community and unity like in this mural," they said. "People of all colors, ages, and styles are included, incorporated, and connected, and like the interconnectedness of the area."  

The team started painting the mural on Monday and finished on Thursday. It was painted next to the entrance for AdLib, a nonprofit organization that serves people with disabilities so that they can live independently in the community.