PITTSFIELD, Mass. — 1Berkshire received over $605,000 in Regional Economic Development Organization grant funding as part of the recently-announced $2.1 million in funding through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development and the Massachusetts Office of Business Development. 

 

As the Regional Economic Development Organization (REDO) for the Berkshires, 1Berkshire was part of the application process for a variety of collaborative endeavors to help secure capital for a number of endeavors to collectively support the regional economy. 

 

On top of the previously announced and launched business resource translation project and the more-recently-launched Best Foot Forward Facade Improvement micro-grant program,  these grant funds from the Commonwealth will go towards projects including:

 

The expansion and relaunch of the 1Berkshire jobs thing. This effort has allowed 1Berkshire to add new digital features to their job posting platform that focuses marketing investment into recruiting applicants from outside markets. The newly-relaunched platform is now housed on Berkshires.org, providing increased interaction with visitors and those interested in moving to the region. 

 

Downtown commercial district signage in the Town of Adams. Partnering with the Town of Adams and proAdams, this effort will invest in signage that will help promote pedestrian foot traffic around the commercial corridors of Adams, while also connecting visitors to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail and Greylock Glen with the retail centers in the Town. 

 

Great Barrington Art Box project. Working with the Town of Great Barrington, this effort will contribute to the region's expanding creative placemaking portfolio by supporting the creation and installation of vinyl art coverings on a series of downtown electrical boxes in downtown Great Barrington.

 

The Mohawk Theater facade and marquee improvement project. Partnering with the City of North Adams, this funding will support improvements and updates to this historic marquee in the City's downtown.

 

North Adams permitting guide and best practices. Working with the City of North Adams and Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, this funding will allow for updates and improvements to the permitting processes and user navigation of permitting systems in the City to help make the pathway to opening a business in North Adams more accessible.

 

Pop Up North Berkshire seasonal pop-up shop program. Partnering with the North Adams Chamber of Commerce and proAdams, along with the Town of Adams and the City of North Adams, this effort will bring up to four pop-up businesses across the two communities for seasonal operations going into the summer of 2022. This effort will help occupy vacant storefronts and contribute to the diverse array of businesses and downtown destinations in both communities. 

 

Content generation for online outdoor recreation asset map and commerce connectivity. Working with Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and with an array of regional outdoor recreation stakeholders, this effort will provide content for an upcoming online outdoor recreation website that will help visitors not only navigate the 300+ outdoor recreation assets across the region, but also assist visitors to those locations find their way into Berkshire downtowns to help drive commerce directly from our outdoor recreation economy amenities. 

 

Williamstown downtown banner project. Partnering with the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce, this effort will result in a brand new installation of an enlarged, visually-attractive banners throughout the downtown corridors of Williamstown as a means to inform visitors of opportunities and to highlight the beauty of the Williamstown area. 

 

Benjamin Lamb, 1Berkshire's Director of Economic Development said 1Berkshire is proud to be able to support communities, businesses, and regional partners in bringing these resources into the Berkshires.

 

"It is rare that these types of high-impact, rapid activation funds are made so quickly available for efforts in the region, so it's extremely exciting to not only have the resources at our disposal, but also to have this special opportunity to work tactically with so many incredible partners to turn those resources into action" he said. "This is a great case study of how the collaborative spirit we have here in the Berkshires allows us to make the most of opportunities when they become available." 

 

As the various projects move forward, updates and information about them will be made available on 1Berkshire's website at 1Berkshire.com. For more information or inquiries, contact Benjamin Lamb at blamb@1berkshire.com