Governor Announces $70K Grants to Promote Local Dairy Products

03:54PM / Sunday, June 04, 2023Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board (MDPB), in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), announced two dairy promotion grants totaling $70,000 to fund projects that will advance the image, sale of and demand for local dairy products.

These funded grant projects for the 2024 Fiscal Year include education initiatives to Massachusetts communities on the importance and nutritional benefits of dairy products. In addition, the projects will bring greater awareness to the contributions of our dairy farmers and provide more resources to our schools to support the consumption of Massachusetts dairy products.

The Commonwealth is home to 108 dairy farms situated on a total of 49,744 acres of farmland. In Massachusetts, the dairy industry contributes approximately $45 million to the state's local economy and produces roughly 188 million pounds of fresh, nutritious, wholesome milk a year, used to make many value-added products like cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and butter.

"The Massachusetts dairy industry preserves close to 50,000 acres of farmland using best land management practices," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "We appreciate our hardworking dairy farmers for their innovation in dairy farming practices. We're glad to recognize them for their production of high-quality and sustainable dairy products."

The Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board grant is funded through check-off dollars received from Massachusetts dairy producers. The nine-member board is comprised of a group of state officials, dairy farmers, and other representatives from the dairy industry. Created as a result of the Dairy Preservation Act of 2008, the goal of the Board is to increase the consumption of Massachusetts dairy products. This goal is carried out through the annual release of the Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Grant Program.

"For generations, Massachusetts dairy farmers have prided themselves on producing the finest dairy products," said Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Ashley Randle. "As someone who grew up on a fifth-generation dairy farm in Western Massachusetts, I've seen the challenges that our dairy producers face. These promotional grant awards will go a long way to help educate and inform consumers about the environmental, economic, and nutritional qualities of dairy products and highlight how Massachusetts dairy farmers are continuing to lead by example with respect to climate change adaptations and clean energy solutions."

The following non-profits are receiving grants through the FY24 Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board Grant program:

New England Dairy Promotion Board has been awarded $20,000 to build Millennial families' trust of Massachusetts dairy farmers and their dairy products by developing and executing experiential consumer events in partnership with a local Massachusetts dairy processor(s). Event locations could include community events, give-back events, community centers, road races, etc.

New England Dairy & Food Council has been awarded $50,000 to grow dairy sales and build trust among youth in schools through the school meal equipment and marketing grants.

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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:01PM / Monday, December 29, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First.

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said.

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers.

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center. It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said.

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it."

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County.

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle. The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said.

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