Greylock Mill Redevelopment Moving Forward With USDA Grants
 Karla Rothstein and Salvatore Perry, with Mayor Richard Alcombright, center, speak of the next steps in their plans to redevelop the former textile mill. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Greylock Works has hit its first milestone in efforts to develop an artisanal food incubator in the former State Road textile mill.
With a spread of local produce — and the noise of ongoing work in the background — principals Karla Rothstein and Salvatore Perry welcomed some of their newest partners with the announcement of two startup grants totaling $173,900 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The first, from Rural Development, will use $75,000 to build a cheese cave, or affinage; the second, an Agricultural Marketing Service grant for $98,900 along with a match grant of about $34,000 from Greylock Works, will be used to support local food enterprises.
The event was held in the 35,000 square-foot "sawtooth roof" section of the Weave Shed, a former textile production area in the 19th-century Greylock Mill, where a new event space and commercial kitchen are planned. The food crafting section is the first phase of a redevelopment of the mill, which is expected to include a hotel and condominiums on the east end.
The "flat roof" section of the shed, about 30,000 square feet, will host a variety of local entrepreneurs based around categories such as dairy, fermentation, etc.
"We're in discussion with many makers in the food system, working with them and designing the space hand in hand that allows them to realize the potential of efficiencies through planning," said Perry.
The kitchen will offer space for production and workshops.
"There is a very interesting program we're developing around a food business school that would be not just around how do you cook, but how do you run a food business, and how do you make that successful," Perry said. "That's really where we're starting."
The grant will also provide the beginnings of the affinage for local cheesemakers, like Crick Creek Farm, which provided samples of some of its well-known cheeses.
"This is really based on elevating the dairy production system and making this a fantastic, renowned cheese affinage," Perry said. "That starts with identifying who's in dairy production and how our facility can help them expand what they've already started."
Perry said Greylock Works hoped to characterize and a culture and a community about "making great foods."
The effort is a coming together of a growing food-centered entrepreneurship in the region.
"We are thrilled to see Greylock Mill going in this direction," said Barbara Zheutlin of the non-profit Berkshire Grown, which supports local farmers and food production.
Berkshire Grown and Cricket Creek were joined by other partners Wild Oats and Windy Hill Farms, which provided cider. Jennifer Lerch of Rural Development said she looked forward to working with the partners.
The city of North Adams and 1Berkshire stood as the fiduciary agents for the two grants, required by the applications.
Jonathan Butler, president & CEO Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, said Rothstein and Perry were great examples entrepreneurs finding opportunities and working collaboratively.
"This is more kind of a new approach to how we grow jobs and build business in the region," he said. "I think there's been a tendency to think large manufacturing ... we're really trying to get the region thinking differently.
"They're latching onto the next wave ... I think food and farm-to-table is the next movement. ... [Products are] being sold on the national market but they're being created here."
Rothstein said they were appreciative of the response they've received, thanking Mayor Richard Alcombright and other partners for their help.
"We've encountered so much enthusiasm and support and participation," she said. "We feel enthusiastic about the work that is already under way."
Alcombright said he was thrilled to see the growing number of partners as the project moved forward.
"Nothing like this can happen in a vacuum it needs to happen with partners, local partners, state partners, and private sectors partners and that's exactly what we have happening here today."
Tags: commercial development, food, greylock mill, incubator, USDA,
