CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town is applying for Community Development Block Grant funds for a housing rehabilitation program. 

 

Clarksburg could get $850,000 or more depending on if it partners with another community. 

 

Brett Roberts, a senior planner with Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, presented the options to the Select Board at its last meeting. 

 

"We were looking over our portfolio, and you're a town that we haven't reached out to in quite a while, and I wanted to change that," he said. "You have a pretty competitive score with the state so we wanted to see if you'd be interested in the grant."

 

The grants, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered by the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, help small cities and towns undertake projects that benefit low and moderate-income residents. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll recently announced more than $4 million coming to Berkshire towns for fiscal 2025. 

 

This is slightly different than Home Modification Loan Program presented to the North Adams City Council earlier this month that focuses on accessibility.

 

Roberts said funds would be used to repair homes, bring them up to code, do lead mitigation or update roofs, windows, and septic. Eligible recipients would have income up to 80 percent of the area median income.