BCC Awarded Technical Assistance Grant

10:30AM / Monday, November 25, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) awarded Berkshire Community College (BCC) a $12,550 technical assistance grant to explore developing HVAC apprenticeships.

EOLWD announced $3.2 million in Grants for Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities in Workforce (GROW) to 29 organizations to train and place 514 apprentices across the state. The grants, which include contract renewals and new awards, leverage more than $2 million in state funding complemented by remaining support from federal funds to train apprentices in high growth industries like health care, manufacturing, clean energy, early childhood education, and more.

"Registered Apprenticeship is a proven program that provides jobseekers with hands-on training and skills that lead to a long-lasting, family sustaining careers" said Governor Maura Healey. "Our administration is proud to have made historic investments in Registered Apprenticeship, expanding the program to more industries and making it more accessible to populations that have been underrepresented in the workforce."

Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones made the announcement at Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute in Boston.

Registered Apprenticeship provides individuals with paid work experience, classroom instruction, and on-the-job training combined with securing nationally recognized credentials, progressive wage increases, and economic mobility.

EOLWD's Division of Apprentice Standards (DAS) is responsible for promoting, developing, and servicing registered apprenticeship programs in Massachusetts. DAS maintains more than 900 apprenticeship programs with over 11,000 apprentices currently working with the vast majority in construction but a growing number of apprentices in expansion industries such as manufacturing, life sciences, and health care.

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Licensing Board OKs Pittsfield Businesses Alterations

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:22PM / Wednesday, December 31, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Licensing Board OK'd alterations for several local businesses during its last meeting of the year on Monday.

This includes an amendment to the Berkshire Museum's entertainment license in advance of its reopening after capital improvements, a change of license category for Hot Plate Brewing Co., and a change of catering company for Berkshire Hills Country Club.

It's been a good year for Hot Plate, as they were nominated No. 3 in USA Today's list of "Best New Brewery," and can now serve all alcoholic beverages. Because of a new state law, businesses can trade an existing beer and wine license for an all-alcohol license.

"The state saw this as an opportunity to enhance businesses all across the commonwealth of Massachusetts," Chair Thomas Campoli explained.

The Berkshire Museum was granted an entertainment license that runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. as it works on a $12 million renovation of its 1903 structure.

Executive Director Kimberley Bush Tomio explained that there are no proposed changes in entertainment from the former license, and board members suggested moving the license's hours later than 5 p.m. in case of an event at the museum.

"It's going to be phenomenal when we get open," she said. "And we do hope to help support the museum through rentals and things like that, so it's helpful to have this license in place."

Berkshire Hills Country Club will have a new in-house food provider, as the board approved a management agreement with Berkshire Hospitality Group, which operates the restaurant at Shire Breu-Haus in Dalton.