Vibe North Street Storefront Recruitment Grant

08:17AM / Thursday, March 16, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass — The Berkshire Black Economic Council (BBEC) will lead the "Vibe North Street" storefront recruitment grant program in collaboration with Downtown Pittsfield Inc. (DPI).

The grant, which is funded by Mass Development's Transformative Development Initiative (TDI), will offer businesses the opportunity to receive TDI Local funds in amounts between $7,500 and $25,000 to help cover the costs of relocating to currently vacant storefronts in the North Street district.

On March 15, businesses interested in moving to the North Street district can apply for the grant, which will be awarded to businesses that demonstrate the passion and capability to revitalize downtown Pittsfield.

"We're excited to launch the Vibe North Street grant program in collaboration with DPI," said A.J. Enchill, Executive Director of BBEC. "Covid has forced many businesses in our downtown to close. We believe that by recruiting new businesses to North Street, we can create a vibrant downtown with diverse businesses that bring a new vibe to Pittsfield."

Vibe North Street is part of a broader effort to fit out vacant storefronts with the proper equipment, fixtures, and furniture so storefronts are "move-in-ready." With the program's focus on attracting new businesses to the North Street district, BBEC and DPI are working to inspire new seasonal activities in order to work toward a downtown with businesses that complement one another throughout the year.

For more info on the Vibe North Street storefront recruitment grant program, visit:

https://berkshirebec.org/opportunities/bbec-grants/

For more info about TDI Local visit: https://www.massdevelopment.com/what-we-offer/key-

initiatives/tdi/tdi-local

Tags: downtown, grants,

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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:01PM / Monday, December 29, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First.

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said.

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers.

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center. It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said.

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it."

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County.

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle. The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said.

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