The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires Celebrates 10 Years

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — April marks ten years since the founding of the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC).

With a mission to help nonprofits connect, learn and grow, NPC provides infrastructure and support to over 1,000 local organizations, stated a press release.

"Nonprofits needed a place to turn for practical help," said Founder and Executive Director Liana Toscanini. "We’ve worked to ensure every organization—large or small—feels supported and connected."

During the early years, NPC developed its core programs such as educational workshops, a Giving Back guide, and the annual Berkshire Nonprofit Awards. Volunteer and resource fairs soon followed, along with a philanthropy curriculum for middle-school students. During COVID, NPC introduced legislative town halls and executive convenings to provide timely guidance and connection during crisis. More recently, NPC launched an equity academy and a board matching service.

"Generous corporate support played a much bigger role in supporting NPC than I would have imagined," said Toscanini. "Getting an earmark from the Commonwealth was a gamechanger, thanks to our former State Rep. Smitty Pignatelli and a very supportive legislative team. Barr Foundation and a few individuals provided additional support to help bring NPC to where it is now, with 2.5 staff and an annual budget of $450,000."

An award-winning organization, Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires is preparing for growth and its next decade of impact. Under the guidance of new Executive Director, Samantha Anderson, who takes the helm at the end of April, the organization will embark on strategic planning to determine how best to support a sector battling burnout, funding cuts, increased need, baby boomer retirements, and attacks from the federal administration.

"People are still amazed that nonprofits employ one in four people in Berkshire County," said Toscanini. "I hope we moved the needle a little bit to change the narrative from ‘There are too many nonprofits’ to ‘Nonprofits fuel the local economy and deserve more support.’"

To learn more about upcoming events, new leadership, and tenth anniversary celebration, visit npcberkshires.org.

Lee Breaks Ground on Public Safety Building

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, April 25, 2026

Lee Town Administrator Chris Brittain says the community voted to invest in its future by approving the new $37 million complex. 

LEE, Mass. — Ground was ceremonially broken on the town's new public safety building, something officials see as a gift to the community and future generations. 

When finished, Lee will have a 37,000 square-foot combined public safety facility on Railroad Street where the Airoldi and Department of Public Works buildings once stood. Construction will cost around $24 million, and is planned to be completed in August 2027.

"This is the town of Lee being proactive. This is the town of Lee being thoughtful and considerate and practical and assertive, and this project is not just for us. This project is a gift," Select Board member Bob Jones said. 

"This is a gift to our children, our grandchildren."

State and local officials, including U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, gathered at the site on Friday, clad in hard hats and yellow vests, and shoveled some dirt to kick off the build. 

Town Administrator Chris Brittain explained that officials have planned and reviewed the need for a modern facility for the public safety departments for years, and that the project marks a new chapter, replacing 19th-century infrastructure with a "state-of-the-art" complex.

"The project is not just about concrete and steel, it's a commitment to the safety of our families, the efficiency of our first responders, and the future of our community," he said. 

He said he was grateful to the town's Police, Fire, and Building departments for their dedication while operating out of outdated facilities, and to the Department of Public Works, for coordinating site preparation and relocating its services.