Samantha Farella, left, of Williams Elementary and Senta Brodeur of Conte Community, with their 2025 Core Impact Awards.( Andy Wrba)

beyond the region as a welcome development for Berkshire County, something the public charity status makes possible through eligibility for grants and partnerships previously unavailable.

“ As funders, we don’ t necessarily compete with one another,” she explains.“ We welcome additional resources, especially those that can tap into funds from outside the area that we might not otherwise have access to. Anytime we can bring more funding into Berkshire County, it’ s a positive thing for our community.”

Mill Town’ s board expansion includes local business leaders and community nonprofit representatives, fulfilling public charity requirements while strengthening its community connections. In addition to Brennan, the board now features members from Greylock Federal Credit Union, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, Berkshire Community College, and Guardian Life Insurance. Additionally, it includes Jason Cuyler of Second Street Second Chances, which provides reentry services to formerly incarcerated individuals returning to Berkshire County, and Jessica Vecchia, co-founder of Roots Rising, which started the first youth-run

farmer’ s market in Pittsfield.“ They’ ve been very thoughtful about who will be on the inaugural board,” says Brennan.“ The team they have invited in provides an understanding of regional needs and brings other minds, perspectives, and expertise to the table.”

The Knight Foundation research indicates that such a diverse stakeholder network is crucial for the long-term success of revitalization efforts. Mill Town ' s formal recognition as a public charity will be confirmed through IRS documentation, marking the completion of this strategic transition. The commitment to sustainable impact extends to every initiative. The foundation avoids launching“ unfunded programmatic stuff,” as Mixer puts it. Every project must be either endowed or built to be self-sustaining, a discipline that ensures lasting impact while preventing speculative development that can displace long-term residents. This business-like approach could attract new supporters and residents looking for quality of life, natural beauty, culture, and purposeful communities.

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Keiter is a family-owned construction services company working with clients on residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional projects of all sizes.

72 // BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE Holiday Fall 2025 2023