Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire

06/16/2026

What happens when fewer people can afford to live in the communities they serve?

A recent Berkshire Eagle article highlights a growing challenge across South Berkshire: towns are struggling to replace longtime volunteers, civic leaders, firefighters, and public servants as populations age.

Housing is part of the solution.

That's why we're creating housing opportunities for local residents, including our 69-unit affordable housing development in Lee and workforce homeownership opportunities in Egremont.

Strong communities need teachers in our schools, firefighters who answer the call in the middle of the night, health care workers who care for our neighbors, artists who enrich our culture, and young families who bring energy and life to our towns.

We're building housing for them. And helping ensure South Berkshire remains a place where people can live, work, serve, and thrive. 💙

📖 Read the full article in The Berkshire Eagle.

Across Berkshire County's aging communities, the pool of residents willing — or able — to fill critical civic roles is shrinking. Small towns are confronting a growing challenge: replacing the

06/10/2026

Last Thursday, we had the honor of presenting Richard Stanley with our inaugural Impact Award — recognizing a leader whose dedication has transformed affordable housing and economic vitality in South County.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible sponsors and donors who make this work possible!

06/03/2026

We officially broke ground in Egremont!

Yesterday, the CDCSB, Egremont town officials, and neighbors celebrated the start of our new affordable housing development at 171 North Egremont Plain Road!

This $1.35 million project is a true testament to community. It's being built on town-owned land, utilizing existing infrastructure, and is funded through a small town site work grant alongside the incredible generosity and donations of local Egremont residents.

As our Board President, Jim Harwood, shared: "Housing is the most important need in Berkshire County, right after the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food that we eat... I’d even call it a right."

The prefabricated homes arrive in August, and we are shooting for an October occupancy to provide rental and ownership units for local families.

Read the full article on The Berkshire Edge: https://theberkshireedge.com/cdcsb-holds-groundbreaking-ceremony-for-affordable-housing-development-in-egremont/

05/27/2026

Small steps, big impact! We are thrilled to break ground on our new affordable housing development in Egremont. This project is all about ensuring our local families have a place to live, thrive, and grow. Join us as we take this exciting step forward together!

05/20/2026

Shoutout to the small but mighty Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC) team for another wonderful breakfast to celebrate their 2026 Berkshire Nonprofit Awards Honorees!!! 👏👏👏

It was ✨ inspirational ✨ to learn more about the work being done in our community. Please join us in congratulating the awardees:
Liliana Atanacio (Latinas413)
Sabrina Allard (Railroad Street Youth Project)
Cathy Marchetto (Berkshire Health System)
Jennifer Golin (Childcare of the Berkshires)
Kahryn Benson (Berkshire Food Project)
Lisa Alberti (Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County)
Gloria Williams (R.O.P.E., the NAACP Youth Committee, and Price Memorial AME Zion Church)

A special congratulations to Liana Toscanini on her retirement, and to Samantha Anderson as she begins her new adventure as NPC Executive Director! 🥂

📷Pictured above: Erik Bruun (CDCSB board member), McCaela Donovan (NPC associate director), Reid Warner (CDCSB program consultant), Keegan Pyle (CDCSB director of philanthropic growth and communications), Giulia Laveto-Emery (CDCSB business program and operations coordinator), and Emmalyn Gaertner (CDCSB manager of finance and operations).

05/12/2026

"Have you tried getting a doctor lately?"

We recently joined The Berkshire Edge for a powerful webinar exploring a critical truth: the housing crisis in the Berkshires is, at its core, a health care crisis.

The Berkshire Edge has assembled a panel of Berkshire healthcare providers, employees, and housing experts to illustrate this issue with personal stories from their own experience. We heard from Dr. Pier Boutin (orthopedist), Patti Costa (CVS employee), Jim Harwood (architect and CDCSB Board President), Dr. Casey Jones (dentist), Joey Lindstrom (Construct ED), Darlene Rodowicz (Berkshire Health Systems President and CEO), Dr. Lara Setti (CHP Family Practice), Dr. Ed Weiner (primary care/internal medicine), and Dr. Eric Bush (primary care/internal medicine).

We cannot address health without addressing where people live. Watch these clips to hear some of the panel’s highlights.

1. Doug Mishkin (Moderator & Vice-chair of Egremont Municipal Affordable Housing Trust), setting the stage for why this conversation matters now.
2. Jim Harwood (President of the CDCSB Board), discussing the vital link between our work at the CDCSB and the health of our community.
3. Dr. Ed Weiner (Primary Care/Internal Medicine), on how housing stability directly impacts patient outcomes.

And you can watch the full webinar at this link: https://theberkshireedge.com/edge-webinar-explores-health-implications-of-local-housing-crisis-our-housing-crisis-is-a-health-care-crisis/.

05/04/2026

Our hearts (and tea cups) are full. 💗🫖

We had a wonderful time a couple of weeks ago at Thornewood, hosting our first Donor Tea event. It was a privilege to share updates with such a dedicated group of supporters who believe in the importance of safe housing and thriving local businesses. From providing 69 families with affordable homes in Lee to breaking ground in Egremont late this Spring, the momentum is incredible. This work only happens because of your partnership.

Big thanks to Erik Bruun, Jim Harwood, Doug Mishkin, Dennis Iodice, and Melissa at EvoQue Investments for the great conversation and to all our donors who make this work possible.

We’re so excited to continue the conversation!

04/28/2026

Community Development Corporation South Berkshire (CDCSB) has been awarded $225,000 in Community Investment Tax Credits (CITC) as part of a $12.8 million statewide investment announced by Maura Healey. The award will help CDCSB expand its work creating housing and economic opportunity for low- and moderate-income residents across the southern Berkshires.

The CITC program provides a 50% refundable state tax credit to donors who contribute $1,000 or more to CDCSB and other Community Development Corporations in the state, making it one of the most effective ways to support local housing and economic development efforts.

“This is more than a funding award- it’s an opportunity for people across our community to be part of real solutions,” said Keegan Pyle, Director of Philanthropic Growth & Communications at CDCSB. “The tax credit makes it easier for individuals to give in a meaningful way, while helping us move critical housing and economic development work forward.”

Funds raised through the program provide flexible, locally controlled resources that CDCSB can use where they are needed most. This includes advancing new affordable and workforce housing, preserving existing housing, and supporting small businesses through technical assistance and training.

In South Berkshire County, where rising housing costs continue to impact working families, employers, and the broader economy, this funding plays an important role in addressing urgent needs. CDCSB is currently advancing projects that expand access to affordable housing and piloting innovative models designed to make homeownership and rental opportunities more attainable. The organization is also continuing its work to strengthen the local economy by supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs.

“Communities know best what they need to grow and succeed, and the CITC program gives them the resources they need to deliver,” said Governor Healey. “These investments will help build more housing, support small businesses and strengthen neighborhoods across Massachusetts.”

Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll added that the program “unlocks private investment and gives organizations the flexibility to expand housing, support families and grow local economies.”

Since its creation in 2012, the CITC program has been a key source of funding for community-based organizations working to expand housing, strengthen neighborhoods, and increase economic opportunity. The program was expanded and made permanent through the state’s Affordable Homes Act in 2024.

For donors, the program offers a powerful combination of community impact and financial benefit. A qualifying contribution allows individuals to directly support housing and economic opportunity in the Berkshires while receiving a substantial state tax credit in return.

“Access to stable housing and economic opportunity is essential to the health and future of our community,” Pyle added. “This program allows people to take part in building that future in a meaningful way.”

Tax credits are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. CDCSB encourages community members, businesses, and supporters to learn more about how to participate.

To learn more about the CITC program or to make a qualifying donation, please visit https://cdcsb.org/donate/citc/.

04/27/2026

The Berkshire housing crisis is a health care crisis. 🏠🩺

How does the local housing shortage affect your health? It’s more connected than you might think. From young doctors unable to find affordable homes to families choosing between rent and prescriptions, the impact is hitting our healthcare system hard.

Join Jim Harwood, CDCSB Board President, and The Berkshire Edge this Thursday, April 30, at 10:00 AM for a vital webinar. We’ve assembled a panel of local healthcare providers, employees, and housing experts—including our own Jim Harwood—to share the personal stories behind this issue.

Let’s understand the problem so we can address it together.

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PkUSJ7VVQxWqM5H7JCyIEg #/registration

04/21/2026

A new housing model is taking shape in Egremont — one that could help smaller towns create more affordable homes without large apartment buildings.

We are beginning construction on two duplex homes designed to support both middle-income homeownership and affordable rental housing in one thoughtfully integrated design.

Each duplex includes:
• A homeownership opportunity priced for middle-income households
• A rental unit for a lower-income family
• Solar panels to help reduce energy costs
• A scale that fits naturally within small-town neighborhoods

This model creates a pathway for first-time buyers while also increasing the supply of affordable rental homes for local workers, families, and community members.

It is a smaller, more flexible approach that could help rural communities address housing challenges in a practical and locally appropriate way.

We are grateful to the Town of Egremont and community partners who helped make this pilot possible. 💙

Read more about this innovative approach to housing in the link or our website: cdcsb.org

The Community Development Corp. of Southern Berkshire is developing two duplexes in Egremont using a housing strategy new to Massachusetts: Sell the duplex to a middle-income homebuyer and have them