1Berkshire Announces USDA Funded Winter 2025 Technical Assistance Offerings

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — 1Berkshire, thanks in part to funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announced its upcoming slate of technical assistance offerings through the Berkshire Economic Recovery Program (BERP).
 
Through its series of cohorts spanning nearly four years, the Berkshire Economic Recovery Program Technical Assistance series has been able to support more than 200 businesses through targeted training and focused convenings and quantified by over $2,500,000 in funding collectively accessed by businesses through their participation. 
 
Going into the Winter of 2025, the program will continue on with three upcoming cohorts. These cohorts will each provide up to seven participating organizations/businesses support through a two-hour kick-off workshop and resources, followed by up to two additional hours of one-on-one direct targeted technical assistance by a paid provider. 
 
1Berkshire, through competitive grant funding secured from the USDA, is able to provide this high-impact service at no cost to businesses, entrepreneurs, and organizations located in any of the 32 cities and towns of Berkshire County, representing a more than $1,000 direct value per business in each cohort.
 
The upcoming cohort kickoff dates are:
  • Jan. 23, 9am-11am - Building a Social Media Marketing Strategy, with Francesca Olsen (Session full - Waitlist open)
  • Jan. 28, 4pm-6pm - Let’s Jumpstart Your Crowdfunding Campaign, with Laura Christensen
  • Feb. 18, 4pm-6pm - Let Robots Do The Work: AI Tools for Small Business Success, with Jenny Bergman
Because the BERP Technical Assistance is FREE, each cohort has a capacity of seven participants; space is very limited, and registration is required. For details on these technical assistance offerings and to register, visit: https://bit.ly/BERPTA
 
For more information, or for additional inquiries, contact the 1Berkshire Economic Development Team at EconomicDev@1berkshire.com.

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Pittsfield Company Fined for Asbestos Violations

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has issued a $17,400 penalty to Pittsfield-based Barile Environmental Inc. for asbestos violations that occurred during abatement services at an office building located at 23 Lewis Ave. in Great Barrington.  
 
MassDEP discovered the violations during inspections of the office building in October 2025. Barile failed to follow appropriate asbestos work practices and controls during its asbestos abatement activities at the building site. MassDEP inspections of the facility revealed that Barile personnel were removing asbestos-containing siding in violation of state asbestos regulations.  
 
"MassDEP enforces asbestos regulations so that management of asbestos-containing materials is completed safely," said Michael Gorski, director of MassDEP’s Western Regional Office in Springfield. "This consent order requires payment of a substantial penalty and could have been avoided if the proper work practices were followed." 
 
Following MassDEP's order, Barile has completed the required cleanup actions and must pay $14,000 of the $17,400 penalty to resolve the violations. The balance of the penalty is suspended pending compliance with the remaining administrative terms of the order.  
 
Property owners or contractors with questions about asbestos-containing materials, notification requirements, proper removal, handling, packaging, storage, and disposal procedures, or MassDEP asbestos regulations are encouraged to contact the appropriate MassDEP Regional Office for assistance.  
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