Election 2009: Alcombright Outlines Three Cs Strategy

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Richard Alcombright
This is a submitted release from mayoral candidate Richard Alcombright.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Mayoral candidate Dick Alcombright released his thoughts on Sunday on how to achieve economic development in the city of North Adams by means of "Conversation, Commitment and Consensus."
 
We know the local economy is stagnant and we need to overcome some economic challenges. I believe I can provide the leadership to do so. I also believe that we are at a place in time where we need to engage at all levels to position ourselves for development opportunities. I intend to manage economic development efforts in this way:

1. Conversation: I will assemble a variety of business and civic leaders to engage in community conversations with respect to all segments of economic and growth opportunities.

2. Commitment: We must identify the commitment of any development or growth project to the greater community.  We need to ask what comes next?  What is the greater growth opportunity that any development project provides? And how do we position ourselves to take advantage of that greater opportunity?

3. Consensus: I will establish priorities through a community consensus. As a community, we need to build a plan for our future, one that embraces smart growth, follow the plan and modify it as necessary. I will be asking for input from all who care about the future of North Adams and will welcome any and all ideas.

 
I truly believe that our economic future is dependent on engaging our citizens in the process of growing the city and creating jobs. No single individual can accomplish this task by himself. We need a transparent team environment in North Adams to maximize our strengths.
 
We have a great liberal arts college, a world class museum, a wonderful hospital, abundant natural beauty and an airport in our small City. These five things alone should make us very attractive to business and development as long as we provide an inclusive and collaborative environment. I want to work with our North Berkshire neighbors with the simple, but compelling thought, that what is good for one of us is good for us all.
 
As a banker, I live in a world of black and white, debits and credits, assets and liabilities. But I dream in color. I intend to create a new culture in this fine city in which everyone can dream in color. We need to talk and plan together and realize that we are a community of unlimited human resources.
 
Together we will succeed.
 
For information about Alcombright and his campaign, contact him at info@AlcombrightForMayor.com, 413-663-5057 and AlcombrightForMayor.com.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

EPA Seeks Applicants for Environmental Education Grants

WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced up to $3.2 million in funding for environmental education grants to support local, community-driven projects that help Americans protect their water, health, and natural surroundings.

EPA expects to award up to 16 grants nationwide, ranging from $200,000 to $250,000 each through the Environmental Education Grant Program.

The Environmental Education Grant Program is designed to give Americans the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about their environment; from protecting local waterways to supporting responsible stewardship in their own backyards. These grants support hands-on projects that help people better understand environmental challenges in their own communities and take practical steps to address them. Projects supported under this program emphasize real-world learning, community engagement, and solutions that can be applied at the local level.

The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is now posted on www.grants.gov and the Environmental Education Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity webpage and applications are due on March 3, 2026.

EPA's Environmental Education and Stewardship Division will host a webinar on February 5, 2026, to provide a general overview of the current NOFO, discuss how to write a competitive application, and answer commonly asked questions. Webinar registration details will be available on https://www.epa.gov/education/grants#webinar.

Stay up to date on all environmental education grant information, including announcements related to upcoming webinar registration, by subscribing to the Environmental Education listserv

 

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