BCC Business Program Moves To 1Berkshire Office
North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright, left, Mad Macs owner Scott Kirchner, Pittsfield Mayor Daniel Bianchi, BCC President Ellen Kennedy, 1Berkshire Chairman Reggie Cooper, state Rep. Paul Mark and Berkshire Enterprises Program Director Steve Fogel join in adding the sign to the list of offices in the Allen Street building. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Scott Kirchner figured that since he knew a lot about Apple products and there wasn't a store in the county, it would be simple to start up a successful business. He was wrong.
He tried but he had no business plan, no experience working with accountants and bankers. Finally, he called and set up a meeting with Berkshire Enterprises Program Director Steve Fogel.
"He enlightened me on how little I knew," Kirchner said on Monday during a press conference to announce that the Berkshire Community College-run program will now have incubator space in the 1Berkshire office on Allen Street.
The program is a "boot camp" for new business owners. Kirchner went through the 20-week program some 14 years ago and then started his Apple-inspired Mad Macs, which has been growing ever since.
"The team I worked with at Berkshire Enterprises not only taught me some of the key skills to run my business, or any business for that matter, but they continually challenged me to broaden my horizons on a variety of subjects that would be important to any entrepreneur," Kirchner said. "It is because of what I learned at Berkshire Enterprises, I was able to complete a business plan and my business plan then became my road map to build Mad Macs into a lasting and successful business that I am proud of."
Established in 1989, Berkshire Enterprises boasts helping to start more than 1,000 businesses with 85 percent of them still operating. Each year, the program helps about 50 already operating businesses and two dozen future business owners. The college hopes to improve and grow those numbers.
Now Berkshire Enterprises will operate out of incubator space in the 1Berkshire office where prospective businesses will have office space and closer interaction with the business community. BCC President Ellen Kennedy said a grant writer will join the team to further help business owners with funding.
"As the participants go through the program, there is identified space for them. They'll have their own phone extension, their own computer, they'll have access to the building," Berkshire Chamber of Commerce President Michael Supranowicz said.
The office houses the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, Berkshire Creative, Berkshire Visitors Bureau, Berkshire Film and Media Commission, Berkshire Regional Employment Board and MassDevelopment.
"This is a perfect addition to the building," said Reggie Cooper, chairman of the 1Berkshire Board of Directors.
The move was heralded by the county's politicians, supporting the closer mix between education and business. Mayor Daniel Bianchi, North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright and state Rep. Paul Mark, who is the vice chairman of the House Higher Education Committee, all spoke in favor of the move. Dan Johnson, of U.S. Rep. Richard Neal's office, was also in attendance.
"A couple years ago, the governor and the Boston Foundation came up with a report about how community colleges needed to focus more on working with local businesses and more with the community. When this report came out, our delegation was like 'so, they should do what BCC does every day? That's a really great idea,'" Mark joked.
Bianchi, who has been focusing his administration on attracting high-tech manufacturing companies to the area, added that a lot of those companies are started at the community college level so strengthening the program can help create more jobs in the city.
"There are tremendously creative things happening here in the Berkshires and they can continue," Bianchi said.
After completing the program, the participants will get free memberships to the economic organizations and Whaling Properties, Allegrone Real Estate and Scarafoni Associates will help find commercial properties.
"Collaboration is the key word this morning and on behalf of Whaling Properties, I have reached out to Scarafoni Associations as well as Allegrone and we want to support all of the graduates of Berkshire Enterprises and provide space and support from the commercial real estate aspect," leasing manager Valerie Whaling said.
Tags: 1Berkshire, BCC, Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, business development, startup,
