This week, CISA and partners launched the CISA Emergency Farm Fund, a revolving loan fund designed to help farmers recover from Hurricane Irene. The Fund will offer quick, zero-interest loans to assist farmers and farm businesses in the aftermath of the storm and flooding. Thanks to an anonymous donor who has put up a $50K match, CISA hopes to raise at least $100K for the fund, which will help farmers now and in the future. CISA’s partners, Whole Foods Market, Equity Trust, and the anonymous...
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The transition from coal to green jobs has begun! After months of planning, education, and outreach, “Action for a Healthy Holyoke,” a coalition which includes Neighbor to Neighbor, won our first victory in our campaign to shut down coal and bring in green jobs! On Tuesday, the Holyoke City Council unanimously voted to pass a resolution to form a Community Advisory Group that will conduct a study on potential future uses of the Mt. Tom coal plant site. The coal plant is the...
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Severe weather this summer brought devastation to many Massachusetts farms. Making a bad situation worse, hundred year flooding from Tropical Storm Irene washed away farmlands, farms, livelihoods, families, and in some cases large chunks of rural communities. Coping with a tragedy of this magnitude demands a full court press. The Commonwealth’s agricultural community has reacted swiftly to this tragedy and established the Massachusetts Farm Disaster Recovery Fund, a charitable initiative...
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NRCS has announced three rounds of funding for four conservation program in Massachusetts. These federal programs, authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill, provide financial and technical help to farmers and forest land owners to protect soil, water and other natural resources. The assistance is available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP), Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA), and the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), all...
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Massachusetts farmers and forest land owners considering looking for financial and technical help from NRCS now have a resource to help them understand what’s involved in applying for and participating in several federal conservation programs. “Understanding the 2008 Farm Bill Conservation Programs” is an eight-page handbook that walks landowners through the entire process from conservation planning to submitting an application to signing the contract, and beyond. · Read...
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Recycling Rally for Textiles, Confidential Papers, and Electronics The Northampton Department of Public Works is sponsoring a recycling event on Saturday October 15th, in cooperation with the Salvation Army, Pro-Shred and JFK Middle School PTO. The event will be held at the JFK Middle School from 9 to noon. Free Textile Recycling: The Salvation Army will be on hand to accept old textiles that can be reused as polishing cloths, carpet padding, building materials and fibers for insulation and...
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Springfield Residents Urged to Show up and Be Heard at Neighborhood and Citywide Meetings Rebuild Springfield Planning Meetings begin week of October 11 Springfield, Mass., October 6, 2011-Rebuild Springfield, an initiative of DevelopSpringfield and the Springfield Redevelopment Authority, kicks into high gear with the first series of three neighborhood meetings during the week of October 10th, followed by a citywide meeting on Saturday morning, October 15th. Residents and stakeholders are...
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It’s not yet clear what disaster assistance may be available to farmers and even when it is, how much of their losses will be covered. We are regularly updating our post-Irene information page for farmers. If you would like to contribute, see here for a list of funds that may provide some help to some farmers. Despite the damage to farms in low-lying areas, most farms in the region have a bounty of crops available. Even many farms that flooded only lost crops in some fields....
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Bob Pura, President, Jeff Marques, head of physical plant, discuss Greenfield Community College geothermal project on Congressman John Olver’s website at www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJnAldZKaxM. Note the peace flag in the background!
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PRESS RELEASE: Springfield area community and labor leaders from fourteen organizations have formed the Community-Labor Rebuilding Coalition to focus on good jobs for local workers as part of the planning and projects in response to the June tornados, and beyond. The Coalition advocates for local people to get jobs with good pay and benefits, doing work that the community needs, with solid long-term community benefits. Coalition members have attended Citizen Advisory Council meetings, are...
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