Healey-Driscoll administration awards over $300,000 to boost woodland restoration and community tourism in western Massachusetts
Through the Woodlands Partnership Program, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) is providing funding to six rural communities and three regional organizations focused on conservation and economic development.
By: Edge Staff
DATE: August 28, 2025
Berkshire County and Boston — The Healey-Driscoll administration today announced over $310,000 in grants designed to protect forests and boost local economies in western Massachusetts. This funding will enhance access to outdoor spaces and support projects that utilize the region’s natural resources for tourism.
Through the Woodlands Partnership Program, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) is providing funding to six rural communities and three regional organizations focused on conservation and economic development. These grants will improve outdoor recreation opportunities in public forests, ensure community safety, and implement sustainable forestry practices that promote forest resilience.
“Forests play a central role in these communities. They support local jobs, improve air quality, and shape the identity of the region,” said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “This funding helps protect those natural spaces while supporting local efforts that ensure people can continue to hike, camp, and enjoy the outdoors for years to come.”
The projects receiving funding from the Woodlands Partnership Grants include Berkshire Natural Resources Council for the Hoosac Range Climate Smart Forest Stewardship Plan. [To] develop a Forest Stewardship Plan for BNRC’s Hoosac Range Reserve, a 992-acre property located in North Adams and Florida.