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Community Development -
In 1983, Berkshire Housing began providing community development consulting services to small towns in Berkshire County and over the years has secured more than $18 million in grants from the Small Cities and USDA Rural Development programs. It has administered these programs for the towns and served as project manager for the many community development activities they funded. These activities have included the revitalization of town centers in Lee, Sheffield and Otis with new sidewalks, curbs, and lighting, the construction of new sewer systems in Otis and in a trailer park in Lanesborough, the installation new water lines and roads, ADA handicapped accessibility improvements in town halls and schools and the operation of housing rehabilitation programs through which more than 1100 housing units in 26 towns have been upgraded.
Current Projects:
- Housing rehabilitation projects:
- Becket CDBG Program - BHDC assisted the Town of Becket with the preparation of a state CDBG grant application that included a housing rehabilitation program, an elderly housing study and a small infrastructure project. The application was submitted February 12, 2010. Awards will be announced this summer.
- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program
- Public facility / infrastructure projects
- Sheffield Senior Center - Berkshire Housing prepared the grant application to the Massachusetts CDBG Program on behalf of the Town of Sheffield for funds to construct a new senior center. In August 2009 the project was funded with federal stimulus funds (CDBG-R). BHDC is now serving as the Project Administrator and Clerk of Works for the construction. The Senior Center will be a 3,000 square foot traditional New England style building with modern features including energy efficient design and an elevator. The Senior Center will host a variety of activities for a very active community of senior citizens. The total budget for the project is $1,250,000.
- Design / Engineering projects