Pittsfield Seeks Public Input on CDBG Plans

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city's Office of Community Development is preparing to write its 2025 annual action plan and 2025-2029, five-year consolidated plan, which will determine how the city allocates its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds next year and over the next five years. 
 
CDBG funds are provided annually to Pittsfield through an entitlement grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended.
 
The required plans are designed to help states and local jurisdictions assess their affordable housing and community development needs and market conditions to make data-driven, place-based investment decisions. The consolidated planning process serves as the framework for a communitywide dialogue to identify housing and community development priorities that align and focus funding from the CDBG formula block grant program.
 
To engage the entire community in this critical conversation, the city is holding a public hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m. at the Berkshire Athenaeum at 1 Wendell Ave. to gather input on the city's greatest priority needs that can be addressed with CDBG funds.
 
Additionally, an online survey here is available now through Feb. 27. The information provided will assist in the development of both plans. This survey should take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
 
Under Federal guidelines, at least 70 percent of CDBG funds must be used to benefit low- and moderate- income individuals. Each funded activity must meet one of three national objectives: 1) benefits low- and moderate-income individuals, 2) aids in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight, or 3) addresses an urgent need that poses a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community which occurred within the last 18 months and for which other funding is not available.
 
For questions related to the plans or the survey, or to request accommodations at the public hearing, contact Nate Joyner in the Pittsfield Department of Community Development at njoyner@cityofpittsfield.org or 413-499-9358.

Tags: CDBG,   public hearing,   

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Companion Corner: Loki at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a sweet and playful dog at the Berkshire Humane Society waiting for his new family.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

Loki is a little less than a year old and is a terrier/pit mix who has been at the shelter for about a month.

Canine caregiver and adoption counselor Simone Olivieri told us about Loki. 

"He is very friendly, very social. He loves every single human. He's good with other dogs. He's just a lovely, lovely puppy who has a few things that he could still work on. He is young and learning."

Loki was brought in because his former home didn't have enough time for him and wanted him to be able to have a family who could give him the attention he deserves.

"He was brought in just because they didn't have time to continue working with a puppy," she said. "So nothing, nothing too serious, really, just he needs someone who can give him a lot of time, because he really does need that time, that attention as he grows and matures and works on this training."

He is still young so he has a bit to learn and has been hard at work learning new things including potty training and playing with other dogs.

"He can get a little bit mouthy, so sometimes, when he gets excited with his toys, he mouths on your hands a little bit. So that's something that we're working on showing him just more appropriate uses of his mouth when he's tugging," Olivieri  said. "Also, he can be a little bit reactive when he is out on walks and he can see other dogs, he tends to want to bark, and it's all just out of excitement and wanting to go see the other dog. So these are a couple things that we are working on with him here at the shelter, and he's been doing really, really well." 

Loki loves to play and go outside and will need a family who will want to take him on lots of walks. He can do well with a dog his size with introduction but should not go to a home with cats. They also say children 10 and older because Loki can be a little jumpy.

"He is very active, and he loves to go on hikes and walks and a lot of playtime. So someone who can devote a lot of that time to him, because he just wants to adventure," she said. "He wants to do everything. And also he could work on some training. Someone who would also devote some time to doing some training classes and really working with him on some reactivity and some mouthiness."

Loki is a great friend to play with other dogs and also loves to tug on stuffed animals and play fetch. While you may have to train him, he loves to learn and will be a great student and snuggle buddy.

"He loves to play with other dogs. He's a very social boy. He adapts his play style really well to other dogs. He loves to go for walks. He loves to play tug. He loves his stuffies here. He likes to play fetch. He loves to learn. He really likes to train. He really likes to be with you. He gives really good eye contact, good engagement. He loves learning new things. And more than just learning, he loves doing it with people. He just likes spending time with people. He also really likes to cuddle. Once his daily exercise needs are met. He's like a really good snuggle buddy."

Loki loves to meet anyone and everyone and is excited for his new family.

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