Greylock Federal Offers Assistance To Homebuyers Through FHLBank Boston Programs

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Greylock Federal Credit Union has been approved to participate in Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston's homeownership assistance programs, Equity Builder Program, Housing Our Workforce and Lift Up Homeownership.
 
All three programs help income-eligible homebuyers who are purchasing one- to four-family homes that will serve as their primary residence.
 
Equity Builder Program (EBP) provides grants to financial institutions to help local first-time homebuyers with down payments and closing costs as well as homebuyer counseling and rehabilitation assistance. Borrowers earning up to 80 percent of the area median income are eligible to receive up to $32,099 in assistance on a first-come, first-served basis. Buyers must complete homebuyer education/counseling.
 
Housing Our Workforce (HOW) enables financial institutions to help local homebuyers earning more than 80 percent and up to 120 percent of the area median income with down payments and closing costs. Borrowers can receive up to $25,000 in assistance on a first-come, first-served basis. Buyers must complete homebuyer education/counseling if they are a first-time homebuyer.
 
Lift Up Homeownership provides grant funding to financial institutions to assist first-generation homebuyers with incomes up to 120 percent of the area median income who are purchasing homes in New England. Income-eligible homebuyers may receive up to $40,000 for down payments and closing costs.
 
"These grant programs are designed to ease challenges associated with a home purchase, particularly at a time when home prices are high and are beyond the reach of many individuals and families. We are pleased to participate to help borrowers become homebuyers, while also supporting the financial stability and vitality of our communities," said Tara McCluskey, Greylock's Vice President, Mortgage Originations Manager.
 
Greylock is eligible to reserve up to $320,000 through the EBP, up to $250,0000 through HOW, and up to $400,000 for Lift Up Homeownership depending on availability of funds in 2026.
 
To learn more about applying for assistance through these programs, please contact the Greylock mortgage department at 413-236-4125.
 
Learn more about Greylock at greylock.org.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

BCC Sees Another $1M for New Trades Program

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College was allocated more than $1 million from the state for an HVAC and heat pump trades program.

This will help BCC renovate an existing space into a lab and classroom, with the hope of welcoming the program’s first students in early 2027. Executive Director of Workforce and Community Education Linda Clairmont said there is "clearly" an interest, a lot of momentum, and demand for the skilled trades.

"We are beyond excited about this opportunity, not only for the college, but for the region, to be able to create a skilled trades program for adults, and it's a complement to what is already happening at the college," she said. 

The $1,188,635 award was announced on Tuesday as part of $13.4 million to 13 state community colleges through the Mass Clean Energy Center’s new Heat Pump and HVAC Training Network.  Between state and federal funding, the college has recently been allocated more than $2 million to diversify its educational offerings. 

Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal visited the college to highlight the $995,000 he secured through congressionally directed spending for a Trades Academy

The nearly $1.2 million in state funds will support a renovation on the first floor of the field administration building for an HVAC heat pump and lab classroom, along with two cohorts of ten students. 

"We have made a lot of progress," Clairmont reported. 

"We've identified a location, right on campus. We are working with architects and engineers right now to design the space, along with some expertise in what is state-of-the-art for HVAC training in real-world environments." 

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