Local Banks To Offer Financing For MBTA Contract Bidders
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Four local banks are teaming up to offer financing to prospective bidders for the MBTA rail car contract.
Greylock Federal Credit Union, Berkshire Bank, MountainOne and Pittsfield Cooperative are pooling their resources to offer a competitive financial package to the bidder. Multiple companies are expected to submit bids on a multi-million state contract to build new cars for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
"This is one way the business community can provide a unified welcome to the companies bidding on the MBTA project," said Greylock President Marilyn Sperling. "Securing 200 or more jobs for this region would be a huge win for the entire community, and we want to do our part to make it happen."
The city and the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority has been attempting to lure companies to choose the William Stanley Business Park as the home of the construction.
The interested companies need to file their bids with the state in May and PEDA and the City have combined to offer a $2 million incentive to bringing the jobs here.
"I appreciate the enthusiastic support shown by Berkshire Bank, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Pittsfield Cooperative and Mountain One Bank," Mayor Daniel Bianchi said in announcing the effort. "The plan shows strong commitment to economic development in our region and the importance of the rail car project in particular."
Some of the companies have toured locations in the Berkshires and officials feel confident in their chances. The company who chooses the Pittsfield site would still need to win the bid on the state level.
The contract will bring an estimated 200 jobs to the area of the construction. The state is requiring that the cars are built in the commonwealth.
