NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Berkshire County cultural venues were awarded more than $9 million in U.S. Small Business Administration funding to alleviate the impacts of having to close during the pandemic.
Grants ranged from $2.7 million for Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and $1.5 million for Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Becket to $124,765 for Images Cinema in Williamstown and $15,187 for Athlone Artists in Lenox.
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal on Monday announced $20,010,864 in grant funds for the 1st Massachusetts congressional district from the Shuttered Venues Operation Grant program. The congressman was at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield with the museum's President and CEO John Doleva; the Hall of Fame received $3,740,728 in funding.
"These funds are incredibly instrumental to operations like the Basketball Hall of Fame who suffered greatly because of the pandemic," said Neal. "For the safety of the American people, the government forced these agencies to close their doors. And now, it is the government again stepping in to make sure that they are able to get back on their feet."
Doleva said the grant commitment "means the Basketball Hall of Fame can stabilize its business operations that were so severely impacted over the last 15 months and allow us to better position ourselves for long term survival and future growth. Without the SBA's SVOG many venues, like ours, would have struggled to regain footing and suffered long term consequences that for some may have been permanent."
The pandemic that began in March 2020 caused disruptions throughout the county's cultural and entertainment industry. Many museums closed completely at first and then opened for limited access for nearly a year. Mass MoCA has been forced to cancel its featured performances, including the three-day Solid Sound Festival, and theater companies struggled (and continue to) to put on outdoor performances.
SVOG was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, and amended by the American Rescue Plan Act. The program includes more than $16 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance. Eligible entities include live venue operators or promoters; theatrical producers; live performing arts organization operators; museum operators; motion picture theater operators (including owners); and talent representatives.
Institutions and companies can use the funds for regular payments for utilities, mortgages, debt and leases; payroll, insurance and worker protection; and a range of administrative, advertising, business and capital costs.
Across Massachusetts, there have been 244 grants awarded totaling $194,408,323. There are 33 in the First Congressional District that total $20,010,864 and include:
Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Becket: $1,492,373
Stationery Factory Events, Dalton: $132,652
Berkshire Choral International, Great Barrington: $525,735
Berkshire International Film Festival, Great Barrington: $47,713
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington: $296,530
Shaw Entertainment Group, Great Barrington: $99,114
Athlone Artists, Lenox: $15,187
Edith Wharton Restoration, Lenox: $184,493
WAM Theatre, Lenox: $43,383
HiLo Holding Co., North Adams: $116,523
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation, North Adams: $2,636,094
Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield: $608,989
Berkshire Theatre Group, Pittsfield: $923,619
The Egremont Village Inn, South Egremont: $257,720
Triplex Management Corp., South Egremont: $396,099
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DiLego Jewelry to Close After Nearly 100 Years in Business
By Daniel MatziBerkshires correspondent
Sisters Pamela Costine, left, and Cynthia Lamore have been operating the store since their aunts retired in 1987. Both started working in the business as teens. Lamore's decided it's time to retire.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — DiLego Jewelery Store, the family-owned business that has been a staple of North Adams for nearly a century, will be closing this summer.
The closure was announced on the store's Facebook page late Sunday night, where it immediately drew comments of remembrance and well-wishing.
Cindy Lamore, whose great uncle Frank DiLego opened the store on Main Street in the late 1930s, said the shop will cease operations following her retirement, slated for June 30. A 20 percent off Mother's Day sale will begin immediately, with increasing discounts leading up to the closing date.
It took Lamore "a couple of years" to reach the decision to close. Witnessing the passing of lifelong friends or their struggles with debilitating illness prompted her to reconsider her priorities, especially considering the extensive time devoted to running a small business.
"You really question what you're waiting for," she reflected.
While recognizing that changing consumer habits have led to a decrease in jewelry and watch sales in recent years, Lamore stressed that her decision to close was a personal one. She and her business partner and sister, Pamela Costine, wanted "to do it on our terms," she said.
Comments on Facebook praised the store's customer service, and friends, family, and customers alike reminisced about buying jewelry for special occasions, stopping in for watch repairs, and the perennial rite of childhood for many: getting ears pierced.
The closure was announced on the store's Facebook page late Sunday night, where it immediately drew comments of remembrance and well-wishing.
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