State Awards $35K to Stockbridge for Local Hazard Mitigation Planning

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STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. – The Healey-Driscoll Administration awarded a $35,000 grant to the Town of Stockbridge for local hazard mitigation planning. 
 
Stockbridge will use its award to update its Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP), which expires in 2027. Having an approved Hazard Mitigation Plan is a requirement for communities to be eligible for certain types of non-emergency disaster assistance funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). MTTA funding will allow the town to hire a qualified vendor to support updating its HMP.   
 
The funding, distributed through the Municipal and Tribal Technical Assistance program, is administered by the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office and awarded grants to communities spanning from Western Massachusetts to Cape Cod in this round. 
 
These grants were part of a round of MTTA awards made to 25 communities across Massachusetts. In total, $1,108,700 in grant awards were made to support technical assistance for local infrastructure projects across the state. 
 
"Massachusetts is pursuing every federal dollar we can get, and we are making sure that our communities are ready to compete and win," said Governor Maura Healey. "We are giving cities and towns the tools they need to move projects forward, unlock federal funding, and deliver results for their residents. From safer roads to stronger infrastructure and climate resilience, these investments will help communities take action and build for the future." 
 
The Municipal and Tribal Technical Assistance program was enabled by legislation filed by Governor Healey, Chapter 214 of the Acts of 2024 ("An Act to Provide for Competitiveness and Infrastructure Investment in Massachusetts") to support infrastructure projects in cities and towns across the state. Governor Healey filed the bill as part of a comprehensive strategy to increase Massachusetts’ competitiveness for federal funding and empower local governments with more resources to pursue federal opportunities.  
 
This is the second round of Municipal and Tribal Technical Assistance awards made by the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office (FFIO). In total, FFIO has awarded $2,048,950 in MTTA grants to communities across Massachusetts.    
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Berkshire Bounty Sets Pickleball Fund-Raiser

PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- It’s back: the third annual Fun(D)raising Pickleball Tournament for the benefit of Berkshire Bounty.
 
Pickleball players are invited to rally against food insecurity at this fun and friendly benefit fo Berkshire Bounty, a Great Barrington-based non-profit organization with the mission to creatively advance community food security through food rescue and delivery.
 
Registration is open through Sept. 18th with the tournament taking place, rain or shine, on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Bousquet Sport Club in Pittsfield.
 
Berkshire Bounty co-founders Mark Lefenfeld and Jay Weintraub expressed their gratitude to the community in a news release announcing the tournament.
 
Teams of two may register in either the Beginner/Intermediate or Intermediate/Advanced Divisions. Entry Fee is $120 per team, with all proceeds going to Berkshire Bounty. 
 
Current event sponsors include the Gilson Family Foundation, Osteo Strong, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Lance Vermeulen Real Estate, Berkshire Money Management, Beacon Bank, Ethan Kelpetar Law Firm, and October Mountain Financial Advisors.
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