MassHire Gets Grant for Behavioral Health Workforce Training

09:00AM / Sunday, February 13, 2022Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board received $252,000 in funding for workforce training and support in the Behavioral Health sector in Berkshire County.

The Berkshire Behavioral Health Partnership is a recently formed partnership as part of the Berkshire Healthcare Hub to address the difficulty with hiring and retaining qualified staff in the behavioral health sector.

The Berkshire Behavioral Health Partnership is committed to establishing and expanding a comprehensive strategy to address persistent recruitment and retention challenges in the behavioral health sector. Their goal is to support clinical training; to establish a pipeline occupational training to encourage and engage new and entry-level workers; and to establish a solid network and support system for our behavioral health agencies through networking and professional development opportunities.

Working with partners at the Brien Center, ServiceNet, Community Health Programs, Berkshire Health Systems, and Berkshire Community College, MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board will oversee a series of programs throughout the year. Funds will go towards providing supports to those obtaining licensure at the Brien Center, supporting supervisors who are already overstretched with their daily responsibilities; expanding an entry-level occupational training developed by Berkshire Community College to encourage pipeline and placement efforts; and to build capacity to engage additional partners and promote/market opportunities in behavioral health in the Berkshires.

"At a time when the need for Behavioral Health Services is high, having the added support for staffing and training is invaluable" said Lois Hobbs, Director of Human Resources at the Brien Center. "We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with this important and timely opportunity."

This grant is part of the state's commitment to improving the behavioral health delivery system in Massachusetts while implementing the Roadmap for Behavioral Health Reform. This project is funded by a Behavioral Health Partnership Expansion Grant through the MassHealth Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) Statewide Investment Program and RIZE Massachusetts Foundation, Inc. and is administered by the Commonwealth Corporation.

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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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