New England Public Media Names Senior Director of Development

11:01AM / Friday, July 19, 2024Print Story | Email Story

Tracy Trial

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — With more than 20 years of experience working in public service in Western Massachusetts, Tracy Trial joins New England Public Media as senior director of development.

She brings a high level of expertise in major gifts, planned giving, and strategic development to NEPM.

"The common thread through Tracy's career has been service," said NEPM President Matt Abramovitz. "Whether working as a fundraiser or a teacher, she has demonstrated a lifelong passion for making our community stronger. I am thrilled to have her bring her smarts, vision, and commitment to NEPM."

Trial is a collaborative-minded leader who has served in fundraising and community relations roles for a number of organizations. She comes to NEPM from United Way of Pioneer Valley, where she was senior director of development. Before that, she was director of community and donor relations at Goodwill Industries of Springfield and Hartford.

In addition to her extensive work in fundraising, her background also includes instructional and administrative positions in secondary and higher education through Holyoke Public Schools and Bay Path University, where she was director of experiential education.

She has given back to the community through volunteer work at Girls Inc. of the Valley, Treehouse Foundation, and other organizations.

A Western Massachusetts native, Trial attended Smith College, where she received a bachelor's degree in philosophy. She went on to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst to earn a master's degree in education. She now lives in Wilbraham with her family and is an avid gardener and baker.

"NEPM has been a steady and dependable resource to me and my family for as long as I can remember," said Trial. "I am proud to join this team at such an important time for local media, and I'm eager to partner with supporters to ensure the continued vibrancy of this trusted organization."

Tags: NEPM, public radio,

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Pittsfield ARPA Funds Have Year-End Expiration Date

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:20AM / Thursday, January 15, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — American Rescue Fund Act monies must be spent by the end of the year, and Pittsfield is already close.

In 2021, the city was awarded a historic amount of money — $40,602,779 — in federal remediation funds for the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the end of September 2025, more than $37 million had been expended, and 90 percent of the 84 awarded projects were complete.

Special Project Manager Gina Armstrong updated the City Council on the ARPA funds during its first meeting of the new term on Tuesday.

As of September 2025, the $4.7 million allocated for public health and COVID-19 response has been fully expended. Additionally, $22.7 million of the $24.9 million allocated for negative economic impacts has been expended, and nearly all of the infrastructure funds, more than $5.8 million, have been expended.

Less than $3 million of the $3.7 million allocated for revenue replacement has been spent, along with about $873,00 of the $1.1 million allocated for administration.

Armstrong noted that in the last quarter, "Quite a bit more has been done in the areas of the housing projects." In 2022, then-Mayor Linda Tyer allocated $8.6 million in ARPA funds for affordable housing initiatives, and the community is eager for those additional units to come online.

Nine supportive units at the Zion Lutheran Church on First Street received more than $1.5 million in ARPA funds, the 7,700-square-foot housing resource center in the basement received more than $4.6 million, and the Westside Legends' home construction project saw more than $361,000 for two single-family homes on South Church Street and Daniels Avenue.

"This is just about complete, and I believe that people who are currently homeless or at risk of homelessness will be able to take these apartments in the very near future," Armstrong said, noting the supportive units and resource center that had a ribbon-cutting in late 2025.