UMass Study Shows Impact by Mill Town Capital in Berkshire County

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An analysis by the UMass Donahue Institute (UMDI) indicates that Mill Town Capital generated a total economic impact of $132 million across Berkshire County, Massachusetts, between 2017 and 2023. 
 
The independent study examined the effects of Mill Town's investments in local businesses, real estate, and infrastructure, as well as its philanthropic activities.
 
According to the UMDI, the investments resulted in a 1.42x economic multiplier, meaning that every $100 generated by Mill Town Capital led to an additional $42 in local economic activity. The study also found that the number of workers connected to Mill Town Capital's activities increased from 3 in 2017 to 672 in 2023. Additionally, the analysis suggests that $5.1 million in local tax revenues were generated through investment and job creation. The report states that $107.3 million (81 percent) of the total economic impact occurred in Pittsfield.
 
Tim Burke, CEO of Mill Town Capital, stated that the report confirms the impact of community-based investment. The UMDI report suggests that Mill Town Capital's approach, combining private investment, public-private partnerships, and community engagement, has produced measurable returns. Rod Motamedi, Assistant Director of Economic and Public Policy Research at UMDI, noted that Mill Town Capital's business model demonstrates how mission-driven capital can contribute to economic change and that community engagement can foster momentum for Pittsfield and the region.
 
Mill Town Capital, founded in 2016 by Dave Mixer, describes itself as an impact investment platform focused on the revitalization of Pittsfield and Berkshire County through investments in real estate, businesses, and community initiatives.
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Lanesborough OKs Open Space Plan, Short-Term Rental Forms

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday set fees for short-term rentals and adopted an Open Space and Recreation Plan.
 
Town Administrator Gina Dario discussed the draft for STR registration and certificate of inspection since the new bylaws were passed at the annual town meeting.
 
The draft shows the process to file for inspection through Permit Eyes, the town's online permitting system that includes the state building code and safety requirements. Dario said members of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals and the building commissioner looked at other town models to come up with the best process for registration.
 
Inspections will be annually for non-owner occupied units and five years for owner-occupied. The inspection fee is a flat $50. The last suggestion discussed was the posting requirements for key information.
 
Dario said they looked at about four other communities on how they used non-sensitive information on owner contacts. Chair Deborah Maynard motioned to have the information posted both inside and out to help with law enforcement if needed.
 
"I'm going to make a motion that we put that relevant information not only on the inside of the short-term rental but on the outside, so if the police need to respond, ambulance needs to respond, fire especially needs to respond, all that information is there, nobody has to go searching for it," she said. "If push comes to shove, and it's a matter of minutes, that's going to make a big, a big difference in the outcome of the incident."
 
The board then heard a presentation from Berkshire Regional Planning Commission's community planner Andrew McKeever and Open Space and Recreation Committee Vice Chair Mark Hawthorne.
 
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