Berkshire Organizations Partner to Launch New Website to Help Grant Seekers

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Funding Focus (BFF), a new initiative established to support Berkshire County entities seeking federal and state funds for pandemic-related recovery and rebuilding, launched its website in November.
 
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and several partner agencies joined to form BFF in response to a need for a clearinghouse focused on the investment of COVID-19 recovery dollars into the region, to improve the well-being of community members. The initiative provides support for four core groups of potential grant seekers: non-profits, municipalities, school districts, and entrepreneurs.
 
According to a press release, Berkshire County needs financial resources to recover, rebuild, and revive. An unprecedented amount of federal and state dollars are available, beginning with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), and continuing through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and the Inflation Reduction Act.
 
Berkshire Funding Focus is here to serve the region as a clearinghouse that:
  • Curates state and federal funding announcements
  • Builds capacity by offering regular training programs for potential applicants
  • Convenes potential partners to explore collaborative and competitive proposals
  • Consults with organizations seeking assistance to help answer questions and navigate applications
"Berkshire Funding Focus is already providing benefits," said Karen Pelto, Recovery Grant Specialist. "We've been able to convene groups to partner on grant applications that will be more competitive and more impactful for the region."
 
The Berkshire Funding Focus website launched on Nov. 1, immediately offering a suite of resources to small businesses, entrepreneurs, cities or towns, school districts, colleges, and non-profits across the Berkshires. A full calendar of workshops and webinars to help grant seekers create stronger applications and be better prepared to manage funds can be found on the website, along with a resource library containing guidance on grant writing, including glossaries to help decipher terminology used by grant makers. In the "opportunities" section, a curated list of currently available grants can be sorted by category (what type of work the grant will fund) topics (what the funders want to support) and audience (who is eligible to receive the funding.)
 
Members of the initiative's Advisory Committee include Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, which serves as the host agency, along with 1Berkshire, BERK-12, Berkshire Bank Foundation, Berkshire Black Economic Council, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Berkshire United Way, Health Resources in Action, Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, and Volunteers in Medicine.

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Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis. 

Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report. 

During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report. 

"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions.  As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday. 

"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements." 

He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report. 

"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote. 

Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.

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