1Berkshire Awarded Climate-Critical Underrepresented Business Support Grant

08:23AM / Wednesday, March 25, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — 1Berkshire Strategic Alliance, Inc. was awarded $50,000 to develop a regional plan supporting underrepresented businesses with readiness, growth, and advancement support, and procurement navigation for businesses in Western Mass.

The announcement was part of more than $7 million in grants awarded by the Healey-Driscoll Administration to enhance workforce development in climatetech.

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) Interim CEO Dr. Jennifer Le Blond announced the funding during the 2026 Central Massachusetts Regional Clean Energy & Climatetech Workforce Summit at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

"Massachusetts is leading the nation in clean energy and climatetech, and that leadership depends on a strong, skilled workforce," said Governor Maura Healey. "These investments will connect residents across the state to good-paying careers while helping employers meet growing demand. We are building a clean energy economy that creates opportunity in every region and real jobs for Massachusetts workers."

The summit focused on three strategic themes: building strategic connections, addressing critical workforce challenges in the region, and exploring resources and funding. Building on the success of MassCEC's previous regional summits in Northeast and Western Massachusetts, this event is part of the agency's broader effort to establish a statewide Climate Corridor.

The climatetech sector in Massachusetts employs nearly 163,000 people. In Central Massachusetts alone, the sector provides jobs for more than 24,000 people, and employers continue to look for skilled personnel. Events like today's summit drive the collaboration needed to expand and upskill the clean energy workforce, which remains crucial to transitioning to a clean energy economy.

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15 People Displaced in Pittsfield Home Fires

Staff Reports11:35AM / Sunday, October 11, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fifteen people were displaced after 2-alarm home fires this weekend on Springside Avenue and Elaine Drive.

On Friday evening, the Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 209 Springside Ave., which took a four-hour battle to extinguish and resulted in a partial roof collapse. The next day, on Saturday evening, crews knocked down a fire at 121 Elaine Drive in about an hour.

The garage and part of the single-family home on Elaine Drive were gutted to the frame, along with a vehicle parked in the driveway. On Springside Avenue, the top level and porch of the multifamily were burned through.

A GoFundMe has been started for the family of the Elaine Drive home, which includes several young children. The fundraiser, with a $5,500 goal, explains they lost their home and all of their belongings. (iBerkshires.com does not confirm or endorse fundraisers; they are provided as information only.)

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries, and both incidents are under investigation. One dog was rescued on Springside Avenue.

On Oct. 10, around 6:15 p.m., PFD responded to the Springside Avenue home for a reported structure fire and saw a 2 1/2-story wood frame multifamily with a heavy blaze showing from the second-floor front porch, extending out.

The building suffered a partial roof collapse, which prolonged extinguishment. The fire was brought under control after about four hours.

“An aggressive offensive attack was mounted by first arriving crews stretching hose lines into the building as well as primary searches that proved negative. Ladders were placed around the structure to provide access as well as escape if needed. An off-duty Fire Captain had also been on scene early in the incident to help evacuate the structure and rescue a dog,” PFD wrote in a press release.

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