EPA Awards Brownfields Grants to Revitalize Berkshire County Communities

10:33AM / Thursday, May 22, 2025Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced significant Brownfields Grant funding to support the cleanup and revitalization of communities within Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Over $2.5 million has been specifically allocated to projects aimed at transforming blighted properties into valuable community assets.

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) has been selected to receive $2,000,000 in supplemental funding for its Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program. This substantial funding boost builds upon the $11,095,667 already awarded to the BRPC by the EPA. The BRPC's RLF program has a proven track record, having facilitated loans or subgrants that have led to 12 completed or ongoing cleanup projects. The newly awarded funds are projected to support crucial cleanup efforts at two sites in Adams: the Memorial School and the Curtis Paper property.

In addition to the RLF funding, the Town of Great Barrington has been awarded a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant. These community-wide grant funds will enable the town to conduct up to eight Phase 1 and up to six Phase 2 environmental site assessments. The grant will also support the prioritization of potential brownfield sites, community engagement activities, and the preparation of three cleanup plans. The target areas for this assessment grant are Downtown Great Barrington and Housatonic Village. Priority sites identified include an abandoned 0.8-acre eight-unit multifamily residential property and a 20-acre former textile mill that has been vacant since its closure in 1955.

By providing resources for assessment and cleanup, the EPA aims to help these communities transform underutilized and potentially hazardous properties into vibrant spaces for residents and businesses.

Tags: brownfields, EPA,

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Free Pet Food Drive-Thru in Becket

10:43AM / Friday, February 06, 2026

BECKET, Mass. — Berkshire Humane Society will give out bags of cat and dog food to pet owners in need during a drive-thru event this Saturday, Feb. 7 from 9:00 – 11:00 am, at the Becket Washington School Parking Lot, 12 Maple Street in Becket.

The drive-thru is in conjunction with the Becket Food Pantry.

Cat and dog owners can drive up to the distribution point and remain in their vehicle while someone takes their order and loads it into their vehicle. Cat owners will get a 6-pound bag of food and dog owners will get a 20-pound bag, no questions asked. The event is open to all, regardless of enrollment in Berkshire Humane Society's Pet Food Bank or participation in the Becket Food Pantry and is made possible by donations from Wendy and James Martin of the Martin Family Donor Advised Fund, the Eichenbaum/Archer Family Foundation and an anonymous private foundation.

"We gave out nearly 7,200 pounds of pet food in our holiday drive-thrus in Great Barrington, North Adams and Pittsfield," said John Perreault, Berkshire Humane Society's Executive Director. "People not only drove, but walked up to those events. I can't tell you how many of them told us how thankful they were for help feeding their cats or dogs," he said. "With the cold weather lately, we don't want people choosing between staying warm and feeding themselves or their cats their pets. With this event, we're hoping to reach more folks in the hilltowns. Thanks to our generous donors, we have more than 7,500 pounds of pet food to do just that! Thank you to the Becket Food Pantry for making the event possible."

Berkshire Humane Society's Food Pantry events are part of the nonprofit's efforts to keep families together and prevent people from feeling they must surrender their pet to the shelter. Other programs include the shelter's monthly Pet Food Bank, to which drive-thru recipients may enroll; low-cost spay and neuter and other veterinary services at the Society's Wellness Clinic; and dog obedience classes at Family Dog School.

Berkshire Humane Society also accepts donations to provide pet food for more families in need. Monetary donations are preferred because the shelter has agreements with pet food companies to buy nutritious food at a bulk rate, feeding more animals per donor dollar. For more information about the drive-thru event or making a donation, call 413-447-7878, extension 127.

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