The Town of Washington is partnering with BRPC under a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant to address critical flooding issues identified as a top priority during the Town's MVP Planning Process. The project will include preliminary engineering assessments of aging and undersized infrastructure, identification of vulnerabilities, and exploration of opportunities to improve flood storage capacity along Depot Brook. It aims to protect key roads and infrastructure while fostering long-term resilience against climate change impacts by implementing nature-based solutions, such as floodplain restoration and bank stabilization.

BRPC is working alongside the City of North Adams and community partners such as Hoosic River Revival, Northern Berkshires Community Coalition, Trout Unlimited among others to address increased flood risk due to climate change. This project dedicates engineering funds toward removal of the Beaver Mill Dam and upgrades to stormwater infrastructure in four areas of the City that were most impacted by July 2023 storms. It also expands BRPC's climate justice program called Gray to Green into North Adams. In collaboration with Gray to Green BRPC will be working with community partners to help identify and design placemaking efforts along the Hoosic River parallel to the ongoing Flood Chutes Feasbility Study headed up by the US Army Corps. of Engineers.

BRPC is assisting Clarksburg build flood resiliency through a community-drive design process in the Four Corners area of Town. This area includes the main community's gathering places namely the Community/Senior Center, the Town Field, and Clarksburg School. The project will look at how the space can integrate stormwater infrastructure and redesign community assets to be more accessible and usable. Part of this project involves a Student Design Challenge in partnership with Clarksburg School and Flying Cloud, as well as community design charrette and ADA accessibility. This project is in its second phase to finalize designs and start permitting.

Berkshire Regional Planning is working with the Town of Clarksburg and the Briggsville Water District as they upgrade water lines to become more climate resilient from drought and flooding. The project includes engineering a new water tank relocated out of the floodplain, improved and if possible relocated water lines out of the flood plain, and increased size to be resilient against drought conditions. BRPC is supporting by providing outreach services and grant administration guidance.

This funding is used to support the Berkshire Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) efforts. The Coordinator and other staff will oversee the MRC including meeting and coordination with other emergency preparedness stakeholders, development of training needs assessments, participation in exercises, drills and events, and the management of volunteers.

BRPC has partnered with the City of Pittsfield, Central Berkshires Habitat for Humanity, Blackshires, Flying Cloud Institute, Westside Legends and Unpaved Trails for All to design a connective path from Francis Ave to West St. The project includes stormwater management installation at the top of Francis Ave., a splash pad constructed in Durant Park, a microgrant program for neighborhood improvements, school activities that connect the project to local students at Conte School, a gentrification study and Westside Revitalization Plan.

BRPC will continue to coordinate the Berkshire County Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Coalition/Berkshire County Boards of Health Association in FY 26 in collaboration with the BCBOHA Executive Committee and the BCBOHA membership, and will work with other contractors to ensure that exercises and other deliverables are completed. Public Health Emergency Preparedness Funding supports local Boards of Health in Berkshire County to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters from a public health and health equity perspective. Berkshire County Boards of Health Association (BCBOHA) acts as the emergency preparedness coalition for Berkshire County.

BRPC is working with the Town of Sandisfield to update their FEMA approved Hazard Mitigation Plan.

This project will assess the current conditions of all town-owned roads and stream crossings within Savoy. Based on the findings of the road surface and stream crossing assessments, a map and report will be prepared with recommendations for the town to consider for future investments.