Berkshires Natural Resources Council Awarded Appalachian Grant

12:28PM / Sunday, September 07, 2025Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — More than 17,000 acres of land will be protected this year after The Nature Conservancy’s Resilient and Connected Appalachian Grants Program provided up to $100,000 in grant funding to support projects that create a connected network of healthy lands and waters across 18 states in the Appalachians region from Maine to Alabama.

One of the projects that won funding is in Washington. There, the Berkshires Natural Resources Council is working on the Depot Brook Corridor Project, located within a half mile of the Appalachian Trail to add to wildlife and climate resiliency. Once permanently conserved, the land will be used by the community for passive recreation and eventually for the Council’s extensive Community Engagement outdoor education and recreation programs.

"We are thrilled to support projects that are making the Appalachians more vibrant by rewilding lands and waterways for the wildlife that roam across acres of land in the region," said Heather Furman, Appalachians Director for The Nature Conservancy. "Protecting connected lands is the key to this contiguous approach to climate resiliency with vast tracts of land, forests, waterways, mountains, and habitats where animals and humans can thrive, now and forever."

Projects supported by the Resilient and Connected Appalachians Grant Program deliver meaningful benefits to communities, including strengthened resilience to climate change and expanded access to natural spaces that promote overall well-being. These outcomes are especially vital for marginalized communities—such as those lacking quality green spaces or facing disproportionate climate-related challenges due to longstanding underinvestment and inadequate infrastructure.

This year, grants went to 14 organizations in 11 states to support the acquisition of over 17,000 acres, giving more than $1 million in privately-raised funds to communities, nonprofits, land trusts, Indigenous tribes and other partners working to protect forested land, waterways, mountains and natural habitats in the Appalachians region, a vital and vast corridor for wildlife migration, climate resilience and overall ecological protection.

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Greenagers Founder Will Conklin Honored as Business Person of the Year

By Breanna Steele12:17PM / Saturday, October 03, 2026

Casey Pease of state Sen. Paul Mark's office presents William Conklin, right, with a state Senate proclamation.

EGREMONT, Mass. — The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce honored a local businessman and nonprofit leader on Sept. 24 at Catamount Mountain Resort.

William Conklin was this year's Business Person of the Year, recognizing his work as founder and executive director of Greenagers, a nonprofit that helps youth and children engage in work in environmental conservation, sustainable farming, natural resource management, and vocational skills building.

Conklin and his family also run Sky View Farm and he is a managing partner of Konkapot Tree and Timber, a small-scale forest products business.

"If you spent any amount of time in Southern Berkshire, chances are you've heard his name, whether you realize the connection at the time or not," said board member Sierra King Watson, who emceed the event. "You might be having a conversation about farming, a new barn or structure that was built, students learning hands-on skills in sustainable agriculture, or a family that receives donated firewood to help keep their home warm through a cold Berkshire winter, or maybe you're simply talking about one of those community leaders who somehow manages to show up, support everyone, and seemingly be everywhere all at once.

"Well, one name has a way of continuously popping up, and that is Will Conklin."

Board President Mark Rulison said the region has more than 1,200 nonprofits. One in four jobs in the county is in the nonprofit sector, which ranks 27th nationally for nonprofit employment. He said the economic impact on the community is huge, thanking those who help.

For the event on Thursday, Conklin requested that as much of the food as possible was sourced locally. Most of it came from Greenagers, Sky View Farm, Indian Line Farm and Fancy Feast Supper Club, creative dinner series.

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