PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield, through its Department of Community Development, is preparing to draft its Program Year 2026 Annual Action Plan, which will help to determine how the city allocates its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the next program year, beginning July 1, 2026. 

 

CDBG funds are provided annually to the City of Pittsfield through an entitlement grant from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended.

 

The Annual Action Plan is designed to help local jurisdictions assess their affordable housing and community development needs and market conditions and to make data-driven, place-based investment decisions. The consolidated planning process serves as the framework for a community-wide dialogue to identify housing and community development priorities that align and focus funding from the CDBG formula block grant program.

 

To engage the entire community in this critical conversation, the city is holding a public hearing on Wednesday, March 3, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Auditorium at the Berkshire Athenaeum, located at 1 Wendell Avenue, to gather input on the city's highest priority needs that can be addressed with CDBG funds.

 

For individuals who live or work in Pittsfield and may not be able to attend the public input session or submit comments, an online survey is available now through March 20, 2026. It can be accessed at https://tinyurl.com/hekabrz6. The information provided will assist in the development of the 2026 Annual Action Plan. This survey should take about ten to fifteen minutes to complete.

 

Under Federal guidelines, at least 70 percent of CDBG funds must be used to benefit low-and moderate-income individuals and families. Each funded activity must meet one of three national objectives:  1) benefits low-and moderate-income individuals, 2) aids in the prevention or elimination of conditions of blight, or 3) addresses an urgent need that poses a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community, which occurred within the last 18

months, and for which other funding is not available.

 

For questions related to the Annual Action Plan or the survey, or to request accommodations at the public hearing contact Nate Joyner, in the Pittsfield Department of Community Development by email at njoyner@pittsfieldma.gov or by phone at (413) 499-9358.