BERKSHIRE COUNTY, Mass. - Construct Inc. has announced a “final mile” closing cost grant of $2,500 for buyers in south Berkshire County which includes 18 towns.

There are 36 available grants, according to Construct Inc. housing navigator Kate Coulehan. Applicant eligibility is based on area median income and the town of the home they are purchasing.

"The criteria for eligibility is that you must make only up to 100% AMI, so you could be coming from out of state or in-state," Coulehan said. "You know, we're very mindful that the Berkshires have been very expensive for a very long time and Construct was actually founded in 1969, so we've developed according to the needs of the community over the decades."

The funding comes from an amendment to the state's American Rescue Plan Act made by state Rep. Smitty Pignatelli, securing $100,000 for a first-time home buyers program in Berkshire County.

This program is available to the towns of Alford, Becket, Dalton, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Otis, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, Washington and West Stockbridge.

Income-eligible applicants are invited to contact mortgage officers for applications at the following banks: Lee Bank, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Adams Community Bank, Pittsfield Cooperative Bank and Berkshire Bank.