1Berkshire Seeking Responses to Business Needs Assessment

11:01AM / Friday, June 21, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — 1Berkshire, the Regional Economic Development Organization and Marketing and Tourism Organization for the 32 cities and towns of Berkshire County, is currently seeking submissions to the 2024 Berkshire Business Needs Assessment.

This assessment, last conducted in 2021, has played a role in the development and allocation of business support resources across the region for years, and the updated responses will do the same for the upcoming years. Outcomes from the assessment will be utilized by 1Berkshire and shared with resource provider agencies to help them decide how to utilize their staff capacity, financial resources, and support services to best fit the current and future needs of the business community in the region.

Participants should expect to take approximately 10 minutes to complete the assessment, and submissions will be accepted up through Aug. 1, 2024.

The link to the 2024 assessment can be found at: bit.ly/2024-berkshire-business-needs-assessment

Tags: 1Berkshire,

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New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction.

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.

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