Springside Rehabilitation Awarded Grant

02:23PM / Thursday, October 17, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Springside Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center recieved a $234,500 workforce development grant.

The grant will provide Springside Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center with funds to provide training and placement services to prepare 40 un/underemployed participants for CNA positions.

They will partner with Craneville Place Skilled Nursing Home & Rehabilitation and Springside Skilled Nursing Home and Rehabilitation.

The grant is part of $4.2 million in workforce development grant funding for nine initiatives across Massachusetts, representing partnerships with employers, training providers, and regional collaborators to train, upskill, and provide job placement for 621 workers for in-demand occupations in health care, life sciences, technology, construction, and more. As part of the awards, $250,000 will support planning grants for training providers.

"These Workforce Success Grants are designed to improve access to good-paying jobs and long-term career success for all Massachusetts residents," said Governor Maura Healey. "By investing in the skill development for underemployed and unemployed jobseekers, we are unlocking their potential, meeting the needs of employers, and strengthening the competitiveness of our workforce and regional economies."

In addition to the $4 million investment in the Workforce Success Grants, Commonwealth Corporation also awarded approximately $250,000 in total to six partnerships to fund planning and program design activities that may lead to the future implementation of workforce development job training and employment opportunities.

Tags: grants,

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New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction.

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.

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