MassDOT Launches Community Culvert, Unpaved Roads Grants

BOSTON - The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Highway Division is announcing updates to Grant Central, a one-stop shop for MassDOT's municipal grant programs.

Updates include launching two new grant programs and implementing a Fully Integrated Application (FIA), an all-in-one funding request application used for all of the MassDOT Highway Division's competitive grant programs. Municipalities may now apply for design support and up to $1,000,000 in construction funding for a single transportation project. Multiple grant programs can be used to fund a single project based on size and scope. Applications are accepted twice per year.??? 

"Grant Central is a game-changer for municipal leaders. It's a one stop shop for leaders to find out what grant programs they have available to them and as a former mayor, I'm thrilled that we're making it easier for municipal leaders to deliver for their communities," said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “As an administration, we're committed to ensuring our 351 cities and towns can thrive, and these new grants and this application system will give them the resources and tools to do that."  

Grant Central will now accept applications for two new programs, the Community Culverts Program, and the Unpaved Roads Program. The Community Culverts Program provides funding to municipalities and Tribal governments for culvert modernization, reconstruction, removal, repair, replacement, and resiliency and biodiversity improvements. The Unpaved Roads Program supports the maintenance, repair, and improvement of locally owned dirt and gravel roads across Massachusetts.?? 

Grant Central is a streamlined portal that manages MassDOT Highway Division's eight municipal grant programs including the Chapter 90 Program, Complete Streets Funding Program, Shared Streets and Spaces Program, Municipal Pavement Program, Municipal Small Bridge Program, the Local Bottleneck Reduction Program, Community Culverts Program, and the Unpaved Roads Program.?? 

The new FIA combines the applications of all Highway Division competitive grant programs into one easy to use application. By utilizing unique logic, the application only asks relevant questions based on user inputs. Using the project scope, MassDOT matches the request to the appropriate funding program(s) for consideration.?With FIA, municipalities no longer need to research which grant program to apply to or manage various program deadlines.??? 

Design is now an eligible expense for all FIA programs. Municipalities may apply for design funding up to $150,000 (unless working with a MassDOT-led designer through the Local Bottleneck Reduction, Community Culverts, or Small Bridge Programs, where design is fully funded). FIA also introduces an increased construction grant limit of $1,000,000 per award, regardless of funding source(s). Finally, equipment and materials grants are available through FIA up to $250,000.?? 

Applications will be accepted beginning November 6, 2025, and will close January 9, 2026, for the 2026 Fiscal Year.??? 

Grant Central streamlines MassDOT Highway Division grants, having all information for the eight municipal grant programs in one location at an organized, user-friendly, online portal. Municipal officials who visit the grants portal can read specific details about what each grant program requires for the application to be considered, along with grant contract amounts, deadlines for applications, and MassDOT contact information should officials have questions. This portal also introduces a public-facing grant award tracker, showcasing all grant awards on a map for greater transparency than ever before. Grant Central revolutionizes grant management for MassDOT and municipalities statewide.??? 

For more info on Grant Central and all MassDOT municipal grants, please visit:?https://madothway.my.site.com/GrantCentral/s/?? 

Toys for Tots Bringing Presents to Thousands of Kids This Year

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:21PM / Friday, December 05, 2025

Volunteers organize toys by age and gender in the House of Corrections storage facility. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Plenty of toys are on their way to children this holiday season thanks to Toys for Tots.

Christopher Keegan has coordinated the local toy drive for the Berkshire Chapter of the Marine Corps Reserve since 2015 and said he has seen the need rise every year, last year helping more than 6,000 kids.

"This is 11 years I've been doing it, and the need has gone up every year. It's gone up every year, and I anticipate it going up even more this year," Keegan said.

On Thursday, the Berkshire County House of Corrections storage facility was overflowing with toys making it the county's very own Santa's workshop. 

Keegan said Berkshire County always shows up with toys or donations. 

"This county is outstanding when it comes to charity. They rally around stuff. They're very giving, they're very generous, and they've been tremendous in this effort, the toys for pride effort, since I've been doing it, our goal is to honor every request, and we've always reached that goal," he said.

Keegan's team is about 20 to 25 volunteers who sort out toys based on age and gender. This week, the crew started collecting from the 230 or so boxes set out around the county on Oct. 1.

"The two age groups that are probably more difficult — there's a newborn to 2s, boys and girls, and 11 to 14, boys and girls. Those are the two challenging ages where we need to focus our attention on a little bit more," he said.

Toys For Tots has about 30 participating schools and agencies that sign up families and individuals who need help putting gifts under the tree. Keegan takes requests right up until the last minute on Christmas.

"We can go out shopping for Christmas. I had sent my daughter out Christmas Eve morning. Hey, we need X amount of toys and stuff, but the requests are still rolling in from individuals, and I don't say no, we'll make it work however we can," he said.

Community members help to raise money or bring in unopened and unused toys. Capeless Elementary student Thomas St. John recently raised $1,000 selling hot chocolate and used the money to buy toys for the drive.

"It's amazing how much it's grown and how broad it is, how many people who were involved," Keegan said.

On Saturday, Live 95.9 personalities Bryan Slater and Marjo Catalano of "Slater and Marjo in the Morning" will host a Toys for Tots challenge at The Hot Dog Ranch and Proprietor's Lodge. Keegan said they have been very supportive of the drive and that they were able to collect more than 3,000 toys for the drive last year.

Volunteer Debbie Melle has been volunteering with Toys for Tots in the county for about five years and said people really showed up to give this year.

"I absolutely love it. It's what we always say. It's organized chaos, but it's rewarding. And what I actually this year, I'm so surprised, because the amount that the community has given us, and you can see that when you see these pictures, that you've taken, this is probably the most toys we've ever gotten," she said. "So I don't know if people just feel like this is a time to give and they're just going above and beyond, but I'm blown away. This year we can barely walk down the aisles for how much, how many toys are here. It's wonderful."