BRPC Invites Applications to the Home Modification Loan Program

04:00PM / Wednesday, May 29, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) invites applications to the Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP).

HMLP is a state-funded no- interest loan program to provide modifications to those in need of accessibility improvements to their homes. Eligible applicants include homeowners and landlords (with fewer than 10 units) with necessary changes needed to their homes to keep disabled or elderly family members in their own homes.

Possible modifications include bathroom and kitchen modifications, ramps, stair lifts, platform lifts, sensory/therapy spaces, hard-wired alarm systems, fences, accessory dwelling units, and more. Please note that this is not a home repair program; repairs to roofs, windows, and heating are not eligible. All work must be completed by licensed and insured contractors.

For property owners, 0 percent interest loans range between $1,000 and $50,000. No monthly payments are required, with repayment is required when the property is sold or transferred.

If you own a manufactured or mobile home, 0 percent interest loans range from $1,000 to $30,000.

All applications are subject to HMLP eligibility requirements.

For more information, visit www.cedac.org/hmlp or contact Christie Lewis at clewis@berkshireplanning.org or 413-442-1521 ext. 23.

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BCC Begins Search for New President

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:52PM / Sunday, January 04, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College has begun its search for a new president as Ellen Kennedy prepares to retire at the end of the school year.

Led by a Presidential Search Committee and a search firm, candidates will be interviewed in early 2026, and the college’s new leader is set to begin work in July.

"The new President will strengthen and expand partnerships with regional businesses, industries, and community organizations that create pathways to student success and workforce development," the job profile reads.

"With a sincere commitment to fostering an environment of care for students, employees, and the broader community, the President will work alongside dedicated faculty and staff, community partners, and elected officials to advance the College's regional prominence. In an era of rapid technological, demographic, and educational change, this leader will champion innovative approaches to teaching and learning while maintaining the College's historic commitment to access and opportunity."

Kennedy announced her intent to retire a few months ago, feeling that BCC is in a good place to welcome new leadership. Her last term will end in the spring, after more than 17 years with the college, 14 of which she spent as president. She looks back on the students, faculty, and campus as a whole with pride.

In 2025, BCC was designated as a Leader College by Achieving the Dream, a national non-profit focused on student success and community economic mobility. The college's enrollment is up 20 percent this year, and, in an interview with iBerkshires, Kennedy said the state's tuition coverage for all 15 community colleges has been a game-changer for Berkshire County. BCC's nursing program has also doubled in size.

The college is seeking a "visionary, collaborative leader" to lead the institution’s mission of providing equitable, accessible, and transformative learning opportunities that meet the current and evolving needs of Berkshire County's diverse community.

The next president will earn between $240,000 to $300,000, a salary established by the Board of Higher Education, and candidates are asked to submit application materials by Jan. 26.