Berkshires Gets $4.3M in CDBG Grants

02:04PM / Thursday, July 25, 2024Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshires is getting $4.3 million Community Development Block Grants for housing, road and social services programs.

Gov. Maura Healey announced some $39 million in CDBG grant awards to 65 communities at Chelsea City Hall on Thursday.

Among the awardees: Becket and Dalton: $999,810 for the purpose of rehabilitating 14 housing units; Great Barrington, Egremont and Stockbridge: $1,375,000 for the purpose of rehabilitating 16 housing units; Lenox and Lee: $1,000,000 for the purpose of rehabilitating 11 housing units; and North Adams: $925,000 to support 2024 road improvements, senior center improvements (Phase III), and provide social services (youth services, meal delivery, youth literacy).

The CDBG Program is designed to help small cities and towns meet a broad range of community development needs, such as housing, community, and economic development projects that assist low-and moderate-income residents or revitalize areas of blight. Communities may apply alone, or multiple communities may join and apply together.

"Our cities and towns use these Community Development Block Grants to fix their roadways, expand their housing options, and improve the quality of life they offer their residents," said Healey. "Our administration is grateful to the Biden administration, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and our federal delegation for their work, and we are thrilled to see how this grant funding will positively impact our local communities.

"We know how important it is to invest in our communities, and these CDBG awards, combined with our Affordable Homes Act, will help us move forward with our commitment to making Massachusetts

more competitive, affordable, and equitable."

Find the full list of awards here.

Tags: CDBG,

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Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action.

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature."

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures.

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis.

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.

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