Berkshire Organizations Awarded Mass Cultural Council Grants

03:00PM / Thursday, June 13, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — MassDevelopment and Mass Cultural Council announced the award of a $6,159,900 investment into 88 nonprofit and municipal cultural organizations through the Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF), which the two agencies jointly administer.

Berkshire County awardees include:

Barrington Stage was awarded $112,000 to install updated theatrical lighting and audio equipment for the St. Germain Stage at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center.

Berkshire County Historical Society was awarded $28,000 to support the creation of a new public sewer connection at arrowhead.

Berkshire Film and Media was awarded $200,000 was awarded $200,000 to complete predevelopment costs for the creation of BFMC+/Kemble Street Studios.

Berkshire Pulse was awarded $10,000 to study the feasibility of expanding studio space into the second floor of 420 Park Street.

Berkshire Theatre Group was awarded $153,000 for the installation of solar panels on the Colonial Theatre and warehouse roof.

Hancock Shaker Village was awarded $200,000 to expand gallery space, create a new climate-controlled collections storage area, install an elevator, and reconfigure lobby and reception areas.

Sheffield Historical Society was awarded $78,000 for drainage, grout and foundation work to the Old Stone Store.

Monterey was awarded $33,000 for architectural and engineering plans for the construction of new open air pavilion as part of the Monterey Community Center.

The Triplex Cinema was awarded $200,000 to support the reopening their second largest theater by making the building ADA-compliant and improving health and safety measures.

Ventfort Hall was awarded $149,000 to repair and rebuild four chimneys on the mansion roof.

CFF provides capital and planning grants to nonprofit organizations, colleges, and municipalities that own or operate facilities primarily focused on the arts, humanities, and sciences. These awards invest in the acquisition, design, repair, renovation, expansion, and construction of nonprofit and municipal cultural facilities. All selected projects are subject to a 1:1 matching requirement.

The Cultural Facilities Fund is financed annually through the Governor's Capital Spending Plan. In FY24, the Healey-Driscoll Administration invested $10 million into the CFF, which supports the awards announced today.

Tags: Mass Cultural Council,

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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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