BRPC has received a grant from the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) through the Affordable Access to Regional Coordination Program (AARC Program) to increase and institutionalize knowledge of clean energy technologies and programs (including clean energy programs focused on low income residents or low income/affordable housing)  through capacity-building, education, coordination, or training at the local level, thereby expanding the reach of successful programs and improving access to clean energy technology for the Commonwealth’s low income residents.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) is working with the Town of Adams to serve as grant manager for their community-wide Brownfields Assessment Grant. The US EPA has awarded the Town of Adams a $400,000 grant to conduct environmental assessments targeting the Rt. 8 Corridor including sites such as 50 & 26 Commercial Street, Curtis Fine Papers, Hoosac Valley Coal & Grain, and 5-7 Hoosac Street.

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will assist the Town of Adams to manage an EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant to remediate the Hoosac Valley Coal and Grain site. Environmental investigations performed to date have revealed petroleum contaminated soil located down to depths of approximately 10 feet along with coal across/near the surface of a portion of the property. A geophysical survey conducted in October 2017 identified an underground storage tank (UST) near the southern portion of the Site near the Hoosic River. Site cleanup will include demolition of the two former building foundations, abatement of hazardous building materials (i.e., asbestos, lead-based paint, PCBs), removal of petroleum and coal-contaminated soils, removal of a UST, and implementation of a new Activity and Use Limitation (AUL).

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will assist the Town of Adams with development of their Hazard Mitigation Plan. BRPC will provide technical and planning services to assist the Towns in preparing a Hazard Mitigation Plan update to meet the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The existing 2013 plan will be used as the foundation upon which to build and update, as necessary, to meet FEMA requirements. BRPC will conduct public outreach, a risk assessment, and develop the plans.

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will provide technical planning support to the Town of Adams Office of Community Development. Specifically, BRPC will aid Adams regarding the National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II requirements.

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will work with the Town of Adams to prepare a Stormwater Management Bylaw to address both construction and post construction stormwater management. The bylaw will require Erosion and Sedimentation controls, include a process for public input, and ensure site plan review to include a preconstruction review that considers potential water quality impacts. The bylaw will also require permanent stormwater controls to minimize water quality impacts and ensure long-term operation and maintenance of structural stormwater controls. Importantly, the bylaw will incentivize Low Impact Development techniques and encourage compact design.

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will provide overall grant management and support for the Mohawk Trail Woodland Partnership Regional Adaptation & Resilience Project.This regional project encompasses a range of components from the macro to the micro – addressing multiple concerns for the MTWP that have arisen due to climate change and that are identified within the communities respective Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Plans.

The goal of this project is to document current bacterial levels in select river segments of the Hoosic and Housatonic River Watersheds, with the expectation that bacteria levels have decreased in those river segments due to known land use changes and/or infrastructure improvements conducted by municipal public works departments. Project partners include Housatonic Valley Association and Hoosic River Watershed Association.

The goal of the proposed Assessment Project is to target contaminated petroleum and hazardous waste sites in Berkshire County, leading to remediation and reuse. This project will retain and promote employment in core developed areas, protect the health and safety of traditional neighborhoods, and maintain the rural character of outlying areas.

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will assist the Town of Clarksburg, with composing their FEMA approved Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Dalton will work with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) to integrate emergency communications and education into the green infrastructure and environmental stewardship planning and implementation process by drawing connections between neighbors and environmental systems.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will assist the Town of Dalton, with development of their Hazard Mitigation Plan. BRPC will provide technical and planning services to assist the Towns in preparing a Hazard Mitigation Plan update to meet the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The existing 2013 plan will be used as the foundation upon which to build and update, as necessary, to meet FEMA requirements. BRPC will conduct public outreach, a risk assessment, and develop the plans.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will aid the Town of Dalton in pursuing next steps indentified through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) planning process including a developing a scope of services for a H&H study at Walker Brook.

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will aid the Town of Dalton in completing the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) planning process to achieve MVP climate community designation.

This project is in collaboration with the Town of Monterey to address nonpoint source pollution of sediment and phosphorus coming from a section of Hupi Road into Lake Garfield. BRPC is providing grant support and outreach while the Town is working with the engineering firm Foresight Land Services to design conceptual treatment Best Management Practices.

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will support the operation of independent farmers markets, build capacity and increase customer volume and sales. The Berkshire Market Collective will bring together all the market managers to provide technical assistance and an outlet to share information, streamline market operations and reduce administrative burden. A unified market campaign will be developed to advertise the markets within the region while celebrating the individuality of each market. Data will be collected that measures sales in dollars and initial customer count and documents customer and sales increases.

The objective of this project is to assist the MTWP municipalities and landowners in achieving greater resilience of the forests to withstand climate change by implementing a suite of best practices to mitigate and adapt to climate change through forest management activities that increase tree retention and growth, enhance species diversity and reduce forest threats.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will work with the Town of Great Barrington to serve as grant manager for their Community-wide Brownfields Assessment Grant. The US EPA has awarded the Town of Great Barrington a $300,000 grant to conduct environmental assessments targeting the Village of Housatonic including sites such as Monument Mills, Rising Mill, Cook’s Garage, Barbieri Lumber, and Hong Kong Buffet.

Grant funds will be used for energy efficiency measures at two municipal buildings. BRPC will provide administrative support to the Town for the activities conducted under the grant and the greater Green Communities program. BRPC will also provide outreach and publicity related to the grant and/or projects in the form of a press release issued by the Town, a municipal/school newsletter article, and a newspaper article or equivalent based on relevant Town communication channels.

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will provide technical and planning services to assist the Town of Great Barrington in preparing a Hazard Mitigation Plan to meet the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will aid the Town of Great Barrington in completing the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) planning process to achieve MVP community designation and update the Town's Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will work with the nonprofit Greylock Flume, Inc. to serve as project manager for an EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant to remediate contamination within the flume at the Greylock Mill in North Adams.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will assist the Town of Hinsdale, with development of their Hazard Mitigation Plan. BRPC will provide technical and planning services to assist Hinsdale in preparing a Hazard Mitigation Plan update to meet the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The existing 2013 plan will be used as the foundation upon which to build and update, as necessary, to meet FEMA requirements. BRPC will conduct public outreach, a risk assessment, and develop the plans.

Four communities (Lenox, Pittsfield, Stockbridge, and New Marlborough) will embark on regional, community-wide culvert assessments of approximately 400 culverts, and design the replacement of three priority culverts. A unique feature to this project is the component of youth development—youth from Environmental Justice communities will be hired to conduct the assessments. Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) is supporting this project by providing overall grant administration and acting as the community liaison during outreach activities.

BRPC is collaborating with the Housatonic Valley Association to do outreach using the Churchill St. culvert in Pittsfield as a example culvert replacement project. BRPC will be assisting by performing a needs assessment and promoting workshop participation county-wide.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will provide technical and planning services to assist Lanesborough in preparing a Hazard Mitigation Plan update to meet the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will provide direction and guidance to assist the Town of Lanesborough in compliance with the MA 2016 Small MS4 General Permit.

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will work with the Town of Lee to serve as grant manager for their Community-wide Brownfields Assessment Grant. The US EPA has awarded the Town of Lee a $300,000 grant to conduct environmental assessments targeting the former Schweitzer-Mauduit paper mills (Eagle, Columbia, Greylock and Niagara).

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will provide technical and planning services to assist Monterey in preparing a Hazard Mitigation Plan to meet the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will provide grant administration and community outreach/education services for the Town of Monterey as they implement the design phase to replace the Route 23 culvert.

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will provide Green Communities technical assistance to Berkshire County municipalities. BRPC will aid Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Dalton, Gt. Barrington, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, North Adams, Monterey, Peru, Richmond, Sandisfield and Washington as they pursue Green Communities designation and aid with the reporting requirements to municipalities who are Green Communities.

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will provide technical and planning services to assist New Marlborough in preparing a Hazard Mitigation Plan to meet the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will work with the City of North Adams to serve as grant manager for their Community-wide Brownfields Assessment Grant. The US EPA has awarded the City of North Adams a $300,000 grant to conduct environmental assessments targeting the Route 2/Mohawk Trail Corridor, specifically a 1 mile stretch of commercial/industrial development between the eastern gateway and the downtown. The core of the Target Area is a former textile mill (Delftree) which was originally part of the Eclipse Mills and a former factory (Barber Leather).

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will provide technical and planning services to assist North Adams in preparing a Hazard Mitigation Plan to meet the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will aid the City of North Adams in completing the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) planning process to achieve MVP climate community designation.

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will provide technical and planning services to assist Otis in preparing a Hazard Mitigation Plan to meet the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will aid the Town of Otis in completing the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) planning process to achieve MVP community designation and prepare a Town Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will provide technical and planning services to assist Peru in preparing a Hazard Mitigation Plan to meet the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will assist the City of Pittsfield's Department of Community Development to oversee and manage a Brownfields Assessment grant awarded by the EPA to assess the former Stetson Dry Cleaner at 35 Federal Street.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will aid the City of Pittsfield in preparing an NOI and Stormwater Management Plan template for compliance with the MA 2016 Small MS4 General Permit.

Through the Regional Energy Planning Assistance (REPA) program, BRPC will augment the capacity of nine Berkshire County municipalities necessary to: 1) advance clean energy projects in under-resourced municipalities 2) expand regional school district participation in Green Communities and 3) help under-resourced municipalities pursue net-zero planning activities and regional clean energy projects. BRPC will provide clean energy planning and program management to the following Massachusetts municipalities: Adams, Becket, Clarksburg, Dalton, Great Barrington, Lanesborough, North Adams, West Stockbridge, and Williamstown.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will aid the Town of Sandisfield in completing the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) planning process to achieve MVP climate community designation.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will assist the Town of Sheffield with development of their Hazard Mitigation Plan. BRPC will provide technical and planning services to assist Sheffield in preparing a Hazard Mitigation Plan update to meet the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The existing 2013 plan will be used as the foundation upon which to build and update, as necessary, to meet FEMA requirements. BRPC will conduct public outreach, a risk assessment, and develop the plans.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will aid the Town of Stockbridge in conducting the Stockbridge Bowl Management Plan, which is being funded by Mass. DEP through a s.319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Grant.

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will provide technical and planning services to assist Washington in preparing a Hazard Mitigation Plan to meet the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The objective is to assist the Mohawk Trail Woodland Partnership municipalities and landowners in achieving greater resilience pf the forests to withstand climate change by implementing a suite of best practices to mitigate and adapt to climate change through forest management activities that increase tree retention and growth, enhance species diversity and reduce threats.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will work with the Town of Williamstown to develop a FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plan Update that will also comply with the requirements of the MA Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program.

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) will aid the Town of Windsor in completing the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) planning process to achieve MVP community designation and update the Town's Hazard Mitigation Plan.