Pittsfield Cooperative Bank Offering Assistance to Homebuyers

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Cooperative Bank has been selected to participate in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston's Equity Builder Program, which assists local homebuyers with down-payment and closing costs as well as homebuyer counseling and rehabilitation assistance.
 
The program provides grants to financial institutions to assist households earning up to 80 percent of the area median income. Borrowers are eligible to receive up to $22,000 in assistance on a first-come, first-served basis. Buyers must also complete a homebuyer counseling program.
 
"This grant program is designed to ease some of the challenges associated with a home purchase, particularly in areas where home prices are on the rise. We are pleased to participate to help borrowers become homebuyers, while also supporting the financial stability and vitality of our communities,” said J. Jay Anderson, President and CEO, of Pittsfield Cooperative Bank.
 
The Pittsfield Cooperative Bank is eligible to receive up to $220,000 in 2022 through the Equity Builder Program depending on the availability of funds.
 
Since 2003, the Equity Builder Program has awarded more than $48.9 million in funds assisting 4,251 income-eligible households to purchase a home.
 
Contact Rich Whalen at 413.629.1610 for more information. 
 

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Neal's Office Among Those Targeted by Suspicious Mailings

Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal was among congressmen apparently targeted by someone mailing suspicious envelopes. 
 
According to a report in The Berkshire Eagle, an envelope containing a powdery substance was discovered by postal inspectors before reaching Neal's Pittsfield office in the Silvio O. Conte Federal Building.
 
Nearly 40 members of Congress have received envelopes containing white powder, according to The Guardian. More than 100 letters are thought to be in the U.S. mail system and the FBI, Capitol Police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service were investigating the mailings that have also been sent to elections officials in various states. 
 
The mailings have been sent to both Republican and Democrat officeholders and several congressional district offices had to be evacuated in the last week or so after envelopes were opened in them. 
 

Earlier today, my Bronx district office received an envelope delivered by mail that contained a suspicious substance. Local law enforcement responded swiftly and, after investigating, determined the substance to be non-hazardous.

— Rep. Ritchie Torres (@repritchie.bsky.social) October 16, 2026 at 3:10 PM
The Guardian reported that the FBI is warning officials to look for envelopes processed through a north Texas center and that carry a postmark or stamp stating "Thinking of You."
 
The Eagle states that Neal's office was alerted on Saturday that it might be getting a suspicious package; inspectors seized the envelope at the Fenn Street post office on Monday.
 
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