BRPC Completes Rehab Work on 14 Sheffield Homes

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SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) announced a total of 14 homes in Sheffield have been successfully rehabilitated through the Housing Rehabilitation Program administered by BRPC on behalf of the Town of Sheffield.
 
The $807,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application was submitted to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) in the spring of 2023 and the program wrapped up on Sept. 30, 2025.
 
Of the 14 homes, the household sizes ranged from one to six people while ages ranged from one year old to 94 years old. Each household had to meet the definition of low- to moderate-income as defined for Berkshire County by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 
 
For a household of four, that was a household income of $87,600 or less. All identifying homeowner information, including their participation in the program, is kept confidential.
 
The type of rehabilitation work for each home was identified through a thorough housing inspection completed by BRPC's Housing Inspector. The work on the 14 homes included items such as new roofing, windows, addressing failing septic systems, lead paint mitigation, new siding, electrical work, and much more. The average cost per home was roughly $57,000.
 
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission was recently engaged by the Town of Sheffield's Select Board to pursue another CDBG application for housing rehabilitation for the coming year. If homeowners, including those outside of Sheffield, are interested in being considered for a future program, they should visit BRPC's website where they can sign up for the Waiting List at the bottom of the page. 

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Nonprofit Center Announces Retirement of Founder

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.— Liana Toscanini, founder of the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC), is stepping down from her role as Executive Director in the spring of 2026.
 
NPC was founded in 2016 with a mission to help nonprofits connect, learn and grow. Toscanini turns 65 as NPC celebrates its tenth anniversary next year. 
 
"It seems like an opportune moment to introduce new leadership to guide the organization to the next level," said Toscanini.
 
The idea for a nonprofit support center evolved from Toscanini's decades of involvement in numerous small civic and nonprofit groups, including a nine-year tenure at Community Access to the Arts (CATA). Toscanini pursued her vision of an infrastructure organization to help support the large and growing Berkshire nonprofit sector. She funded the start-up nonprofit herself and tirelessly developed multiple revenue streams to keep programs and services free or low-cost for nonprofits. Similar to a Chamber of Commerce, NPC serves as the trusted clearinghouse for practical information for Berkshire nonprofits, and is now a vital resource for the community.
 
"NPC has been a steady, genuine force for good. They meet you where you are and create a true sense of community among nonprofits," said Natale Monroe, founder of Embrace & Empower, a nonprofit focused on health equity and cancer survivor support.
 
Today, NPC serves over 200 nonprofit members thanks to strong support from the business community, individuals, foundations, and the Commonwealth in the form of an earmark. Seventy percent of the organization's annual budget of $400,000 comes from contributions. "Anticipating continued growth, we recently added the positions of Associate Director and Operations Manager," said NPC Board Chair Emily Schiavoni. 
 
An award-winning organization, NPC currently offers two dozen programs and services. Its signature offerings include The Giving Back guide, the Berkshire Nonprofit Awards, and a philanthropy curriculum for 8th graders. Over ten years, NPC has presented nearly 200 workshops and facilitated thousands of referrals and requests for advice. NPC's programs are seen as a model by other nonprofit support centers around the country.
 
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