BCC's '40 Under Forty' Awards Night Scheduled

08:05AM / Monday, September 13, 2021Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Community College (BCC) will hold its annual 40 Under Forty awards celebration on Thursday, Sept. 30 from 5-7 pm.

The event will be held under a large tent near Paterson Field House. Tickets are $65 and are available at www.berkshirecc.edu/40-under-forty.

40 Under Forty honors talented millennials and Generation Z professionals in the Berkshires who have shown their support for the region through leadership, community service, and a dedication to improving the quality of life for those living and working in the community.

Because COVID-19 caused last year's event to be rescheduled, this year's celebration will honor 2020 winners.

Shela Levante, Director of Development, said the celebration has become an anticipated event in the Berkshires, and that the 2020 event was missed.

"We felt strongly that last year's winners deserve recognition in spite of the fact that the event had to be rescheduled," she said. "We wanted to make sure they had their moment to shine, and we're so pleased to be able to hold the event in person."

Masks are required inside the tent and recommended outside the tent.

Nominees for 40 Under Forty must be 39 years old or younger as of April 1 of the award year and must work in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Nominations can be submitted by a co-worker, peer, or family member. A panel of judges reviews the nominations and score them according to four criteria:

Career path — How fast has the individual risen? How is his or her rising career path unique or unusual?
Commitment to the community — Does the individual volunteer? In what capacity?
Outside recognition — Has this individual been recognized by any industry or community groups?
Overall nomination — Is the nomination complete? Is it thorough and thoughtful?

Applications for the 2022 cohort will open in fall 2021. For more information, contact the Office of Advancement at (413) 236-2185 or 40under40@berkshirecc.edu.

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State Wins $130M to Advance West-East Rail

03:03PM / Saturday, October 17, 2026

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Some $130 million in federal monies is being invested into passenger rail along the so-called Knowledge Corridor and for laying the groundwork to establish West-East Rail from Albany, N.Y., to Boston.

The funding for the Springfield Hub Modernization Project was announced on Friday by Gov. Maura Healey, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and U.S. Reps. Richard Neal and James McGovern.

The project is part of the state's Compass Rail vision, centered on Springfield Union Station and building on existing Amtrak Vermonter, Hartford Line and Valley Flyer service.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation was awarded the funding through the Federal Railroad Administration's Fiscal Years 2025-2026 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant program to support modernization of the rail infrastructure around Springfield Union Station.

"This is a major win for Western Massachusetts and a big step forward for West-East Rail," said Healey in a statement. "This $130 million investment in Springfield will help us improve transportation, reduce congestion and connect more communities to jobs, housing and economic opportunity. I'm grateful to Senators Markey and Warren, Congressmen Neal and McGovern, and all of our partners for helping us secure this critical funding and move us closer to expanded passenger rail service across Massachusetts."

The project will upgrade tracks, signals and other infrastructure to address a major rail bottleneck, reduce conflicts between freight and passenger trains, and allow more efficient operations and expanded rail service. This work is expected to improve on-time performance, reduce delays and provide more schedule flexibility for Amtrak Vermonter and Valley Flyer passengers. The project will also create capacity for future passenger rail service while reducing unnecessary train idling, emissions and operating costs.

"Building West-East rail is a once-in a-lifetime investment to connect Massachusetts' communities and our regional economies like never before. It will mean lower costs, less congestion, and access to opportunity for families across the state," said Markey. "I'm proud to have secured this $130 million in federal funding alongside Governor Healey, Senator Warren, Congressman Neal and Congressman McGovern, bringing our total federal investment to more than $280 million to date, which will build the track to this more affordable, cleaner, better connected future."

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