Biz Briefs: Greylock's North Adams Branch Moving to Ashland Street

Coming soon

The Greylock Federal Credit Union and Greylock Insurance Agency offices located at 66 Main St. in North Adams both will be moving to 131 Ashland St. (Landmark Building) on Jan. 8. The Landmark building is the former home of Landmark Credit Union, which merged with Greylock in 2017. After the merger the Landmark building was closed for renovations which were recently completed.

The newly renovated location at 131 Ashland St. offers members the convenience of one-stop shopping for all their banking and insurance needs. It also offers plenty of parking and a drive-up. A grand opening will be held in February to celebrate the newly renovated branch.

Looking ahead

Berkshire Money Management invites all current Crane & Co. employees to several informational sessions highlighting rollover options for 401(k) plans after a major company sale. The sessions will all take place at BMM's new home, the Model Farm at 161 Main St. in Dalton, on Thursday, Dec. 28, from 4 to 5 p.m. and Friday, Dec. 29, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., as well as Thursday, Jan. 4, from 4 to 5 p.m. and Friday, Jan. 5, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Guests are encouraged to air concerns and ask questions during these very informal sessions. Crane employees have six "rollover" options in deciding what to do with their 401(k) retirement fund. In December, Crane announced the sale of  Crane Currency to a Connecticut-based firm called Crane Co. for $800 million. The currency department, part of Crane & Co., employs about 600 people in Dalton.

Nonprofit news

A new report, "Nonprofit Benefits in the Berkshires," has been released by Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires in collaboration with Nash Insights of Pittsfield. The report details the results of a survey that was conducted in the fall with the intention of providing a closer look at the benefits offered by Berkshire County nonprofits than has previously been provided by other studies.

Benefits are an important part of the compensation package that nonprofits provide to attract and retain employees. With nonprofit salaries often lower than those in the private sector, benefits are a useful way to enhance the total compensation package.

A total of 40 organizations responded to the survey. The sample offers a mix of different types and sizes of organizations from all parts of Berkshire County. The report includes findings on a variety of benefits including: short and long-term disability, health and life insurance, long-term care insurance, retirement plans, child care, parental or family leave, tuition assistance, and health savings and flexible spending accounts, among others. The report also provides data on how the Berkshires compares to Southern New England and parts of New York. The full report is available online for $35.

Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
06:15PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public — and not be subject to a charge.

 

More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing  Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.

 

Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.

 

One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly. 

 

"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."

 

Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.

 

Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.