Pittsfield's Boost North Street Cohort Celebrates Program Launch

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI) and the Pittsfield Economic Revitalization Corporation (PERC)  announced the launch of the 2024 Boost! North Street Cohort. 
 
This program is supported with funding from TDI Local Funds, provided by MassDevelopment's Transformative Development Initiative (TDI), and matched with additional funding from the Pittsfield Economic Development Revitalization Corporation. The partnership aims to empower and support local businesses on North Street through competitive grants and professional consulting, said a press release.
 
Professional consulting services will be provided by Revby LLC., a technical assistance grant provided by MassDevelopment's Transformative Development Initiative.
 
Twelve downtown Pittsfield businesses have been selected to join the 2024 Boost North Street Cohort through a competitive process that considered applicant's initiative, proposed feasibility, purpose, and collaboration efforts. Participation in the Boost North Street Cohort is designed to enhance various aspects of business operations, including sales, marketing, digital presence, financial organization, growth strategy, website development, and operations workflow. 
 
Businesses will receive grant funding upon completion of program requirements which include one-on-one business consulting sessions.

The 2024 Boost North Street cohort participants are:

  • ASTScuba/Aquatic Roots
  • Berkshire International Market
  • Clark Vintage Lighting
  • Dottie's Coffee Lounge/Dorothy's Estaminet
  • Empire Pizza
  • Espetinho Carioca
  • Methuselah Bar and Lounge
  • Otto's Kitchen and Comfort
  • Placita Latina Restaurant and Market
  • Steven Valenti Clothing
  • Tito's Mexican Bar and Grill
  • Witch Slapped
 
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CBRSD Makes Cuts to Lower Town Assessments

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — School officials say reductions in the Central Berkshire Regional School District's budget will be felt, but remain optimistic that it will not prevent them from being "the best regional district in the state."
 
Throughout the budgeting season, officials said they strived to keep the seven member towns informed amid contractual increases outside their control and concerns with a state aid funding formula described as "remarkably wrong."
 
The initial budget was about a 9 percent increase, but with "strategic reductions" the district was able to cut that down to 2.99 percent, bringing the total budget to $37,740,005. 
 
"This was no small feat," said Paul Farella, district's Finance Committee chair.
 
In earlier budget drafts, towns voiced concerns over significantly higher assessments, which ranged from approximately 7 to 15 percent, compared to prior years, when it was about 2 to 7 percent. 
 
With the revised budget, projected net town assessments are: 
  • Becket for $2,859,205, an increase of 5.49 percent
  • Cummington for $670,246, an increase of 5.11 percent 
  • Dalton for $10,106,445, an increase of 5.86 percent
  • Hinsdale for $3,277,495, an increase of 10.54 percent 
  • Peru for $1,083,751, an increase of 6.11 percent 
  • Washington for $826,774, an increase of 6.64 percent
  • Windsor for $995,438, an increase of 9.37 percent
"[The cuts] will be felt, but we believe that it is what is necessary for the time being to not overburden our towns while still being able to provide a quality education to our community," Farella said. 
 
Delivering high-quality education while responsibly managing public funds in a district, which like many rural areas, faces financial constraints is a duty Superintendent Michael Henault said he takes very seriously.
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