Pittsfield Council Accepts Grant for Innovation Center
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council on Tuesday unanimously to accept $9.7 million in state funds to build the Berkshire Innovation Center, and will take up the question of whether to allocate an additional $250,000 city money to open it for business in subcommittee in two weeks.
Approval of the grant followed a condensed presentation summarizing much of what was put forth at a large press conference on Monday, outlining the nature, usage, and operational business plan for the 20,000 square foot center and the member-driven nonprofit organization that will manage it.
Rod Jane, a consultant with New England Expansion Strategies who handled the feasibility study for the center and will be retained to assist in supporting the new startup, extolled to the council the benefits in job creation he says will come from connecting many of the small and medium-size companies involved with larger companies and major research institutions across a wide region.
In particular, the facilities and support resources provided by the center will offer opportunities to grow those existing manufacturers connected to the supply side of one of Massachusetts' fastest-growing employment sectors.
"There is a significant cluster of companies that are suppliers to the life sciences industry," said Jane, who noted that 15 percent of income in the Berkshires is still derived from existing manufacturing jobs in the area.
"We on this side of the state have a lot to gain from moving in this direction," added William Mulholland, dean of lifelong learning and economic development at Berkshire Community College, who will be among the educational partners to the site.
During a public comment period, board members of the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority, which has shepherded the project since its infancy eight years ago, spoke enthusiastically in support of moving forward with the center.
"It's hard to align the stars when you're talking about economic development and jobs, and a healthy community," said PEDA board Chairman Maurice "Mick" Callahan. "This is one time that the stars have aligned.
"The opportunity is now," added Callahan, urging the council to approve both the grant and an allocation of $250,000 from the Pittsfield Economic Development Fund, to be matched by $250,000 from PEDA's own resources. "This is important to this community and to generations to come."
"It's an exciting time for the PEDA board," agreed board member Michael Filpi. "It's also an exciting time for the Morningside neighborhood."
Both PEDA and the PED Fund (formerly known as the GE Economic Development) were created out of agreements between General Electric and the City of Pittsfield along with numerous state and federal agencies, to create infrastructure and financing to redevelop both the physical site of the former manufacturer and the local economy in the wake of its departure.
This will mark the third request for an allocation from the fund during Mayor Daniel Bianchi's administration thus far. The mayor asked for $500,000 in 2012 for a revolving small-business loan account and, earlier this year, the council also approved his request for a $1 million additional incentive to be created from the fund in the event that a rail-car manufacturer decides to site an operation in Pittsfield to service a 10-year MBTA contract.
Previous allocations to the fund over the years have included support for the Colonial Theatre's restoration, Barrington Stage Company, Ice River Springs, and the creation of the University of Massachusett's historical restoration program at Hancock Shaker Village.
The council's Committee on Community and Economic Development will take up the allocation at it's Aug. 25 meeting. A press conference outlining the local companies and organizations involved in the center was held earlier Tuesday.
Tags: city council, life sciences, PEDA, state grant,
