1Berkshire Trendsetter Award Nominations Open

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The 1Berkshire 2025 Berkshire Trendsetter Award nominations are now open. 
 
These Awards will be presented at the annual Celebrate the Berkshires event. In addition, the honorary Putting the Berkshires on the Map award winner will be announced at this event.
 
"We are happy to announce the Trendsetter Awards are back for the 12th year. These awards allow us to shine a light on the exceptional individuals and businesses in our community," said 1Berkshire President and CEO Jonathan Butler. "To date, 1Berkshires has given out over 65 of these Awards and we can not wait to give out six more this year." 
 
The six Trendsetter categories are: Driving Visitor Engagement, Advancing Our Economy, Nonprofit Collaborator, Under 40 Change-Maker, Visionary of the Year, and Breaking the Mold. 
 
1Berkshire encourages any and all businesses as well as individuals to self-nominate or to nominate others that are doing great work.
 
The deadline to nominate is Thursday, June 12, 2025. Nominees do not have to be members of 1Berkshire.

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Pittsfield Cannabis Cultivator Plans Dispensary

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD. Mass. — A cannabis cultivator and manufacturer has opted to sell its products on site in Downing Parkway. 

The Zoning Board of Appeals this month approved a special permit for J-B.A.M. Inc. to operate a dispensary out of its existing grow facility. There will only be changes to the interior of 71 Downing Parkway, as there will be less than 500 square feet of retail space in the 20,000-square-foot building. 

"My only concern would be the impact, and really would be traffic, which I don't think is excessive, the odor, if there was one, but that doesn't seem to be an issue, and I think it's a good location for a marijuana facility," board member Thomas Goggins said. 

The company's indoor cultivation site plan was approved in 2019, an amendment to add manufacturing and processing in 2021, and on the prior day, a new site plan to add a retail dispensary was approved by the Community Development Board. 

J-B.A.M. cannabis products are available in local dispensaries. 

The interior of the facility will be divided to accommodate an enclosed check-in area, front entrance, retail lobby, secure storage room, offices, and two bathrooms. There are 27 parking spaces for the facility, which is sufficient for the use. 

No medical or recreational cannabis uses are permitted within 500 feet of a school or daycare, a setback that is met, and the space is within an industrial park at the end of a cul-de-sac. 

"The applicant desires the restructuring of the business to be more competitive in the industry with the ability to grow and sell their own cannabis products so they have more financial stability," Chair Albert Ingegni III, read from the application. 

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