BWB Presents Workforce Awards

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Bekshire Workforce Boar honored four are leaders at their quarterly meeting.
 
The MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board (BWB) held its quarterly meeting on Sept. 10, 2020 via zoom and honred Mayor Linda Tyer, Melanie Herzig of the MassHire Berkshire Career Center, BWB Board member Brian Morrison and the 1Berkshire Team. 
 
At their meeting BWB highlighted several accomplishments including pandemic response efforts, career readiness programming, training in healthcare & manufacturing, employer engagement and reemployment activities.  
 
Four leaders were recognized for their efforts:
 
• Mayor Linda Tyer, City of Pittsfield received the 2020 Workforce Ambassador award for her longstanding support of MassHire activities, engagement in business discussions and for her consistent commitment to supporting workforce programming in the Berkshires.  
 
• Melanie Herzig, Business Services Representative, MassHire Berkshire Career Center received the 2020 Workforce Professional Award. Melanie was recognized for going above and beyond in assisting businesses and organizations through the Berkshires with their workforce needs.  
 
• Brian Morrison, Berkshire Workforce Board Member received the Social Media Superhero award for always supporting workforce development social media campaigns.
 
• The 1Berkshire Team received the COVID-19 Innovators Award for creating programming and support systems during the pandemic that helped business connect and thrive.  
 
Although the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board and Career Center remain closed to the public, workforce and career readiness services are still being provided virtually to employers, job seekers and youth. During the pandemic, MassHire assisted 435 companies and 1,207 job seekers, with their workforce needs; completed the manufacturing training which trained 56 un/underemployed; provided summer youth program to 37 youth; and connected more than 2,500 youth with career readiness activities. There are a number of new labor market tools on the MassHireBerkshire.com website to help organizations apply for resources.
 
The Board voted on the Workforce Business Plan for FY2021 which can be found on its website www.MassHireBerkshire.com. The Berkshire Workforce Board is a federally mandated workforce board that creates and sustains powerful connections between businesses, education providers and jobseekers.  The Board addresses critical labor market issues and serves the oversight and policy-making body for federally funded employment and training services in the region.
 

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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