Unistress Plans Move to William Stanley Business Park

By Jen ThomasPrint Story | Email Story
Petricca Industries, Inc. CEO Perri Petricca announced the move of Unistress Corporation's metal fabricating facilities to the William Stanley Business Park.
Pittsfield - After seven years of planning, the William Stanley Business Park will welcome its first tenant as early as next week. "It's taken awhile to get to today," said Mayor James M. Ruberto at a morning press conference. "But, today is the date where we know for certain, after a couple of false starts, that we have our first tenant at the William Stanley Business Park, one of our own - Petricca Industries." Petricca Industries will move their Unistress Corporation from its current home on Cheshire Road to a new 22,100 square foot facility at the park as part of a $6 million expansion project. The new location will focus on continuing current metal fabrication operations while the current Unistress facility will be converted to the manufacture of pre-stressed concrete components for use in bridges, stadiums, and other retail and industrial buildings. Expecting to break ground next week, Perri Petricca, CEO of Petricca Industries, said he is proud to be able to keep his business in its hometown. "Unistress has been growing at an incredible pace and we have expanded into every nook and cranny of our current facility, which is saying something given the size and acreage we possess down on Route 8," Petricca said. "There was a pride and energy once our focus became on doing something locally that we didn't have when we were looking at out of state locations." A joint effort of the city, MassDevelopment, the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority, TDBanknorth, the Pittsfield Economic Redevelopment Agency and Petricca, the move is part of the ongoing effort by city officials to expand local business and economic development opportunities. "I'm extremely pleased to say today that we've come to this point, a point when we can actually proclaim the start of a new beginning on this very valuable and important piece of real estate near the heart of our city," said PEDA Chairman William M. Hines. Unistress Corporation's full four-part expansion plan will create 40 new jobs, bringing the total to 365 for Unistress and more than 600 for Petricca Industries and its affiliate companies. Additionally, the move will allow Petricca Industries to expand other components of their industry. Unistress plans to implement a wireless communications system for instant transmission of design information from the Cheshire Road facility to the metal fabrication area at the business park location. They also intend to construct seven acres of storage facilities on land adjacent to Unistress' current location. "I am just so proud to think of all these benefits to the city of Pittsfield," said Ruberto. Planning for a hopeful November grand opening, Pitrecca said he has his work cut out for him. Pitrecca Construction, Co. will begin the process next week of "getting the site up to grade." Pitrecca said this includes breaking up the concrete at the business park site and leveling it as the land is located on a flood plain. The two and a half acre facility will likely begin construction in August. Pitrecca said he expects to give back to the city that has been his company’s home since 1936. "We anticipate staffing some of these new jobs through vocational partnerships with both the local high schools and the Sheriff's vocational rehab program," Petricca said. "We're proud to be here; we're a family business and we're really excited to be able to do something in Pittsfield," he said. Jen Thomas may be reached via e-mail at jthomas@iberkshires.com or at 413-663-3384 ext. 23.
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BVNA Nurses Raise Funds for Berkshire Bounty

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Nursing Association members of the Berkshire Visiting Nurses Association raised $650 to help with food insecurity in Berkshire County.
 
The nurses and health-care professionals of BVNA have given back to the community every holiday season for the last three years. The first year, they adopted a large family, raised money, bought, wrapped and delivered the gifts for the family. Last year, they sold raffle tickets and the money raised went to the charitable cause of the winner. 
 
This year, with food insecurity as a rising issue, they chose to give to Berkshire Bounty in Great Barrington.
 
They sold raffle tickets for a drawing to win one of two items: A lottery ticket tree or a gift certificate tree, each worth $100. They will be giving the organization the donation this month.
 
Berkshire Bounty seeks to improve food security in the county through food donations from retailers and local farms; supplemental purchases of healthy foods; distribution to food sites and home deliveries; and collaborating with partners to address emergencies and improve the food system. 
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