BRPC Seeks Input On Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

11:00AM / Wednesday, October 19, 2022Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) is seeking public comment on a draft Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for Berkshire County, which will be in effect from 2023 through 2027.

The CEDS is a coordinated regional planning process that documents current economic conditions, identifies priority economic development projects, and sets goals and strategies for the upcoming 5-year period. Two previous CEDS have been published for Berkshire County, in 2011 and 2017. The 2023 edition will include an expanded Resiliency Planning chapter, as well as an overview of COVID-19 impacts on unemployment rates and labor force statistics.

The Berkshire County CEDS is developed by BRPC staff in partnership with a regional CEDS committee, made up of representatives from local government, priority industries, non-profits, and regional agencies involved with economic development. After the public comment period completes on November 12th, 2022, and the CEDS document is endorsed by the BRPC Commission, it will be submitted to the US Economic Development Administration for approval. Implementation occurs over the course of the next five years, with annual progress reports filed each year.

The draft document can be found on BRPC’s website at berkshireplanning.org/initiatives/berkshire-comprehensive-economic-development-strategy-ceds/ or at bit.ly/BerkshireCEDS, along with more information about the initiative and copies of former CEDS documents and annual reports.

The PDF document includes links to online forms for members of the public to suggest additions to the Action Plan and Resiliency Recommendations included in the draft. General comments can be emailed to BRPC Economic Development Program Manager, Laura Brennan, at lbrennan@berkshireplanning.org, with the subject line "CEDS draft."

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Pittsfield Conducting Housing Production Plan with BRPC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:20PM / Saturday, August 08, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Berkshire Regional Planning Commission will conduct a Housing Production Plan for the city.

Last week, the Affordable Housing Trust heard some points they are asked to consider in the infancy of this project. This includes the types of housing missing from Pittsfield, where insufficient housing affects other efforts, and housing wins.

A housing production plan helps create a pathway for municipalities to build housing through specific goals while contributing public input and a survey of community needs. It also sets targets for the amount of housing to be produced.

"We have worked with Berkshire Regional Planning before. I think you all remember where they did a housing needs assessment for us when we first convened," Director of Community Development Justine Dodds reminded the board during its July 22 meeting.

BRPC will kick off the project this month with data gathering, meeting with city staff to see the metrics, capacity, and what Pittsfield has undertaken so far.

In December and January, additional chapters will be presented around demographics, housing conditions, and barriers to housing. In February, they will work on goal setting and setting forth an action plan.

A big part of this, Dodds explained, is community outreach and engagement, which will occur in the spring

A final plan will be submitted to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities in May.

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