Berkshire Clean, Cold, Connected Partnership Awarded $276K

10:50AM / Friday, October 10, 2025Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON—The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced over $700,000 in grants to support partnerships to restore rivers and wetlands.

In the Berkshires, the Berkshire Clean, Cold, Connected Partnership was awarded $276,000 through the Housatonic Valley Association, the lead organization.

"The Berkshire Clean, Cold, and Connected Partnership is doing critical work to strengthen climate resilience and restore aquatic ecosystems across the Berkshires," said State Rep. Leigh Davis. "I'm grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for investing in these important partnerships that advance meaningful restoration projects throughout the Commonwealth."

The Berkshire Clean, Cold, Connected Partnership unites organizations, agencies, and communities to strengthen aquatic health and climate resilience in the Hoosic, Housatonic, and Farmington River watersheds. This award will expand regional capacity to deliver nature-based climate solutions, accelerate the removal of aquatic barriers, and restore coldwater habitat for native fish species.

This funding, provided by the Department of Fish and Game's (DFG) Division of Ecological Restoration (DER), will support three established partnerships through DER's Regional Restoration Partnerships Program. These partnerships advance locally led projects that provide clean water, reduce flood risk, and restore healthy habitat for fish and wildlife.

"Nature is our best defense against natural disasters. That's why the work of these local environmental leaders in the Berkshires, Merrimack Valley, and Buzzards Bay is so important," said Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "Removing aging dams, restoring wetlands and salt marshes, and expanding access to streams are some of our best strategies for preventing disastrous floods in our communities. By making progress through these partnerships, we'll be protecting people's livelihoods in the event of a storm."

DER's Regional Restoration Partnerships Program helps build the capacity of regional organizations and regional planning agencies that work with cities, towns, and other local partners to lead watershed-scale ecological restoration within their regions. Pairing partners' strengths with state investments empowers local communities to restore rivers and wetlands and help people and nature adapt to climate change.

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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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