Council approves Mayor Ruberto’s Cinema proposal

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Project set to move forward The City Council last night voted unanimously in favor of Mayor James M. Ruberto’s plan to loan $1 million in GE Economic Development funds for a new downtown cinema center, which will allow the project to move forward after several years of work by leaders in state and city government, business, and many others in the community. The approved package includes major contributions by five local financial institutions, the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation (MHIC), the Berkshire Legislative Delegation, Downtown, Inc., developer Richard Stanley, and the City of Pittsfield. It includes $2,000,000 in state funding, $900,000 in Historic Tax Credits, $4,700,000 in equity through the Federal New Market Tax Credit and Historic Tax Credits, and $4,000,000 in private funding, and $1 million in loans from the City of Pittsfield. The state of the art cinema complex, to be constructed in the historic Kinnell and Kresge buildings at 49-55 North St, will include six screens, including two stadium seating screens. The capacity of the theaters will range from 130 to 226 seats. “This is the centerpiece of our downtown revitalization and will truly bring the masses back to North Street,” said Mayor Ruberto. “It will also serve as a platform for the city to further strengthen our urban neighborhoods.” The financial proposal was presented to the City Council earlier this month and was referred to the Council’s committee as a whole to discuss the finer details of the plan. At that committee meeting on October 17th, the Council voted 10-0 in favor of the package (with one councilor not present). At last night’s final reading, the Council again voted 10-0 in favor of the $12.6 million dollar plan for the cinema center, which is expected to draw 220,000 people annually to downtown Pittsfield. “Downtown, Inc. has worked for ten years to locate a downtown cinema developer. We have learned that the large chains are not investing in these markets. Richard Stanley is the right partner for this project,” said Michael MacDonald, past president of Downtown, Inc. and member of the Downtown, Inc. Development Committee. “Mr. Stanley could have developed this project outside the downtown for less money and a greater personal return. With the public support of the city and Berkshire legislative delegation, we can bring this project downtown.” The group of local financial institutions partnering in the financial package, making the project possible, includes Berkshire Bank, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Legacy Banks, Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, and TD BankNorth.
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Kennedy Calls BCC Workforce Graduates Inspiring

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

The programs ranged from emergency medical technician to computers to commercial drivers. See more photos here. 
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College Workforce and Community Education graduates were encouraged to be all they can be on Wednesday.
 
Graduates, families, friends, and staff gathered in Boland Theatre to celebrate around 100 graduates who completed a variety of courses.
 
They included community health worker, emergency medical technician, phlebotomy technician, registered behavior technician, AI fundamentals, Commercial Drivers License Class A and B, CompTIA Tech-plus, para educator, and English for Speakers of Other Languages.
 
College President Ellen Kennedy said it was amazing that this might be her last public speaking event before her tenure comes to an end.
 
She acknowledged the diverse reasons for their studies including career advancement and personal growth, commending their vulnerability and dedication. 
 
"Some of you explored AI, some of you improved your English speaking in really important ways, and the reason that each of you is here is because you decided to put your heart and soul to get vulnerable to do something that might have felt a little bit uncomfortable," she said. "And you did it, and we are so incredibly proud of you, and so happy to be here tonight, celebrating you."
 
Keynote speaker Shirley Edgerton, founder of Rites of Passage and Empowerment (ROPE) encouraged the graduates to reflect on their accomplishments and look forward to the future.
 
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