Nonprofits Invited to Combined Resource Fair

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC) is hosting a Nonprofit Resource Fair at the Berkshire Innovation Center on Monday, Oct. 27 from noon to 4pm. 
 
Sponsored by Berkshire Funding Focus, CORE 401(k) Program, and Lamar Advertising, this free networking event features a broad range of vendors and two "Meet the Donors" panels.
 
Over thirty vendors will table on the ground floor of the BIC including: 1Berkshire Berkshire Leadership Program, Acrisure, Adirondack Payroll Services , Berkshire Funding Focus, Cartlann Digital, Community Television of the Southern Berkshires, Convivo LLC, CORE 401K, Impact Hacker, Jillian J Events, Little Green Light, Liz Albert Strategic Fundraising, MassDevelopment, Miss Hall's Horizons Program, Mountain Magnolia Marketing, Northern Berkshire Community Television, Only In My Dreams Events LLC, Precision Bookkeeping by Coral, Randall Trophies LLC, Red Ball Promotions, Roger Magnus Research, S Brown Consulting LLC, SMS Consulting, Southern Berkshire Shopper's Guide/The Berkshire Eagle, The Love of T Foundation Inc., Tiffany Thibodeau Consulting, Tricia McCormack Photography, TSNE (Third Sector New England), Woodlife Farm Market and Wright Collective.
 
"We're excited to expand this event and expect a good turnout because of the combined offerings of the resource fair and "Meet the Donors," said Liana Toscanini, founder of the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires. 
 
In the Berkshire Innovation Center auditorium nonprofit attendees will have the opportunity to meet Massachusetts funders including Mass Cultural Council, MassCollab, MassDevelopment, Sincere Foundation, and The Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts. At 3pm, Berkshire Funders take the stage including: Adams Community Bank, Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Jewish Women's Foundation, Lee Bank, Milltown Foundation, MountainOne and NBT Bank. The audience will hear directly from funders about philanthropy trends, funding focus and guidelines, and tips for applying.
 
Nonprofits can network with service providers, funders and each other, walking away with useful information and valuable connections. While the Nonprofit Resource Fair is targeted to nonprofits, anyone can attend and walk-ins are welcome. The fee is $20. Those that register in advance will be eligible to win door prizes. To register, visit https://npcberkshires.org/product/nonprofit-resource-fair-meet-the-donors/
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Healey Announces Housing Development Supports at Former Pittsfield Bank

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Gov. Maura Healey poses with the bank's old safe. The building is being refurbished for housing by Allegrone Companies. The project is being supported by a commercial tax credit and a $1.8M MassWorks grant for infrastructure improvements. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Gov. Maura Healey stood in the former Berkshire County Savings Bank on Tuesday to announce housing initiatives that are expected to bring more than 1,300 units online. 

"People come here from all over the world. We want them to stay here, and we want kids who grew up here to be able to afford to stay here, but the problem is that for decades, we just weren't building enough housing to keep up with demand," she said. 

"And you guys know what happens when there isn't enough supply: prices go up. We have among the lowest vacancy rates in the country, so against that challenge, we made it our priority from day one to build more homes as quickly as possible." 

Approximately $8.4 million from the new Commercial Conversion Tax Credit Initiative (CCTCI) is designed help communities transform empty or rundown commercial buildings into new homes along with $139.5 million in low-income housing tax credits and subsidies through the Affordable Housing Development grant program. 

The historic 24 North St. with a view of Park Square has been vacant for about two years, and Allegrone Companies plans to redevelop it and 30-34 North St. into 23 mixed-income units. The administration announced its Commercial Conversion Tax Credit Initiative (CCTCI) and the Affordable Housing Development grant program as ways to aid housing production, both of which Pittsfield will benefit from. 

The state is partnering with Hearthway for the construction of 47 affordable units on Linden Street, utilizing the former Polish Community Club and new construction, and Allegrone for its redevelopment of the block. 

The Linden Street project is one of the 15 rental developments the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is supporting through $25.7 million in federal low-income housing tax credits, $32.4 million in state low-income housing tax credits, and $81.4 million in subsidies. 

Allegrone's project is supported by the commercial tax credit and was recently awarded $1,800,000 from the MassWorks Infrastructure Program. 

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said she fully comprehends the importance of housing and how crushing it is in communities that need it and want to build, but face difficulties with high construction costs. 

"Housing is the key to keeping people in the community in a safe way and giving them an opportunity to fill those many roles that we need throughout the Commonwealth in cities and towns, large and small, urban and rural, these are all important work. Having somebody fix your boiler, fix your car, we want those individuals to be able to live in our communities as well, particularly in our gateway cities," she said. 

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