Adams Community Bank Holds Annual Meeting, Announce Growth

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ADAMS, Mass. — The annual meeting of the Community Bancorp of the Berkshires, MHC, the parent company of Adams Community Bank, was held on April 10, 2024, at Charles H. McCann Technical School in North Adams.
 
The meeting included reviewing the 2023 financial statements for the Bank, electing directors and corporators, and highlighting upcoming executive personnel changes.
 
"In 2023, the Bank experienced another year of growth in assets, loans, and deposits, noting the Pittsfield branch reached $26 million in customer deposits from its opening in December of 2022," President and CEO of Adams Community Bank Charles O'Brien said. "Those deposits were loaned out locally during 2023 and helped drive our #1 ranking in both mortgage and commercial real estate lending, according to Banker and Tradesman."
 
At year-end 2023, total assets were $995 million, and O'Brien noted the Bank crossed the $1 billion threshold during the first quarter of 2024.
 
Board chair Jeffrey Grandchamp noted with O'Brien's upcoming retirement, this will be the final annual meeting of the CEO's tenure since he joined the Bank in 1997. He thanked him for his 27 years of dedication to the Bank. He acknowledged the evolution of the Bank as it became the premier community bank in the Berkshires, noting that branches grew from 3 to 10, that employees grew from 40 to 135, and that assets grew from $127 million to $1 billion. 
 
An executive search is underway for O'Brien's replacement.

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Adams Plans Route 8 Blight, Winter Street Reconstruction

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

The narrow street runs along the river between Hoosac Street and Summer Street. Plans for the street have been under consideration for nearly 15 years. 
ADAMS, Mass. — The town is preparing to submit an application for Community Block Grant Funds following the designation of its blighted area on Route 8. 
 
CDBG is a federally funded competitive grant program administered by the state. It can be used for activities that address blight, housing, beautification, demolition and economic development.
 
According to a report by Berkshire Regional Planning Commission 26.5 percent of the existing primary buildings in the area are physically deteriorated and include high vacancy, suspected contamination, abandoned properties, and decline in property value. The overall percentage of properties contributing to slum and blight is 32.1 percent. 
 
The town will be applying for the maximum amount communities can receive, $950,000. The public hearing, required prior to submitting an application, will take place at the Select Board meeting on Wednesday. The deadline for fiscal year 2026 is April 21.
 
If approved, grant funds would be used to rehabilitate six housing units and complete a "big" construction project focused on Winter Street, said Donna Cesan, community development director. 
 
"We've been talking about Winter Street for a long time," she said. 
 
Currently, the Winter Street project is estimated to cost $760,000. The town will need to use Chapter 90 road funds because its expecting to get $550,000 to $600,000 from CDBG.
 
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