Pittsfield CDBG Applications Exceeding Funding

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:48AM / Friday, January 30, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city has 24 applicants for human services funding, and last year's awardees stretched their dollars as far as they could.

The Human Services Advisory Council recently outlined its process for allocating Community Development Block Grants, which are funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Last year, 23 city programs received a total of $206,250 from Pittsfield's general fund and the CDBG Program.

Nate Joyner, Pittsfield's community development and housing program manager, reported that beneficiaries nearly doubled their impact with the last cycle of awards.

"In last year's program, under the CDBG program, there were 556 proposed beneficiaries across all the different programs," he said during the virtual meeting.

"That was what they expected to serve with the funding we allocated, and the actual beneficiaries were 993, so we see these agencies kind of stretching the dollars, serving a lot of folks, and it kind of shows there's high demand for the services being offered."

The requests for this round amount to $462,533. The funding for the grants has not yet been approved, but the city anticipates a total available budget again of $206,250 between local funding and our federal CDBG block grant funding.

A public comment period for community members to communicate support for agencies or applications, or for broader needs within the city. Comments can be sent to the Pittsfield Community Development Office or to njoyner@cityofpittsfield.org.

The federal CDBG program supports community development activities that build strength and resilience. The Human Services Advisory Council, after presentations from applicants, provides the mayor with recommendations on how Pittsfield should allocate its human services dollars.

The first of five of Thursday nights of presentations will begin Jan. 29 and end March 5, with the exception of Feb. 19, and the commission will vote on a final number at the end of March.

Executive orders from the Trump administration have restricted language in the CDBG process, specifically around affirmative action policies and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The city had to rewrite its contract agreements to ensure they aren't afoul of the executive orders, and applicants are advised of the executive orders.

Joyner reported that there are promising indications in Washington that the HUD budget will be approved without much disruption, and said the city should be on track to issue grants in May or June.

It was announced that the panel, typically 11 members, is seeking two additional members after some resignations.

Tags: CDBG,

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Crane Park's Mini-Pitch is Open for Fun

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:18AM / Wednesday, October 21, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — City officials celebrated the opening of the new Crane Parks mini-pitch on Tuesday.

Players from several local soccer programs, community leaders, and project partners gathered to kick the ceremonial first pitch into the goal on the new facility.

Back in May, the Parks Commission endorsed a project to place a mini-pitch over the aging, cracked concrete surface of Crane Park's former rink. A mini-pitch is a compact, modular field typically used for soccer, and it can also accommodate inline skates.

"The mini-pitch system will create a space that encourages physical activity and welcomes play through teamwork. The space will serve as a location for the community to gather for outdoor fun and recreation for many years ahead. They'll be able to put their cell phones down for a few minutes and actually engage in some great outdoor entertainment," Mayor Peter Marchetti said.

The project was funded entirely by grants. In June, the City Council accepted the gift of the mini-pitch facility, valued at over $100,000, and $10,000 from the Mill Town Foundation to ready the site.

The facility has a galvanized steel border with built-in goals and a rubber plastic surface that is clicked together. Cleats are not allowed on the surface, but sneakers and other sports shoes are.

The mini-pitch system came with a light tower and two LED lamps, but Crane Park does not have power, so it won't be illuminated. That could change in the future, officials said.

The pitch is open for the community every day, but Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath reminded users to be mindful as they play as well as to respect the pitch and the neighborhood it resides in.

McGrath said the idea grew out of conversations with Andy Wrba, program director for the Mill Town Foundation.

"There's been a deep, deep soccer community in Pittsfield and throughout the Berkshires for a long time. I've seen it as a multi-generational way for communities to connect and pass down lessons and connect families and everyone. And a big part of that has been the West State Soccer League," Wrba said.

He said the goal is to keep the space active and encourage outdoor recreation and youth engagement.

McGrath said that with the partnership from Mill Town and the city's park commission they were able to bring the pitch to the finish line.

"It's a testament to our ability to bring new and unique facilities into our city that accommodate youth sports. And it really, at the end of the day, is about promotion of soccer. And we are just so pleased that our partners all came together and that we were able to get this mini-pitch completed," McGrath said.

Other contributors as well were the U.S. Soccer Foundation, who provided the mini-pitch system, surface materials, and installation assistance at no cost to the city, as well as Massachusetts Youth Soccer who partnered with Pittsfield to bring the system to the city.

"All these contributions made this project possible, and highlights how our community continues through public and private partnerships to provide new facilities and amenities for all to enjoy," Marchetti said.

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