Berkshire Restaurants Awarded MassDevelopment Grants

10:24AM / Wednesday, October 01, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield restaurants Marie's North Street Eatery, BB's Hot Spot and Mazzeos were awarded grants along side North Adams restaurant Bigg Daddy's.

MassDevelopment announced $900,000 in grants from the Food Insecurity Grant Program for Independent Restaurants, a program in which independent restaurants in Massachusetts receive funding to prepare and supply meals and other food products for nonprofit meal distributors with the goal of helping address food insecurity in the state.

Marie's North Street Eatery was awarded $13,000
BB's Hot Spot was awarded $11,420
Mazzeos was awarded $10,000
Bigg Daddy's was awarded $34,200

A total of 31 restaurants received grants over the course of this year ranging from $7,000 to $45,000 to prepare and supply food to be delivered at no cost to food banks and pantries, senior centers, schools, and emergency food distribution centers supporting individuals and families in the Commonwealth. MassDevelopment contracted with Local Enterprise Assistance Fund and Franklin County Community Development Corporation to administer the grants and work with the restaurants to collect, deliver, and distribute the food.

"The benefits of the Food Insecurity Grant Program for Independent Restaurants are two-fold, strengthening our local restaurants and food-service supply chains while at the same time enhancing access to high-quality prepared meals and food products for those facing food insecurity in Massachusetts," said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley, who serves as chair of MassDevelopment’s Board of Directors. "Through MassDevelopment, we are pleased to award $900,000 in grants to local restaurants across the state with the infrastructure, staff, capacity, and desire to produce meals and other food products for individuals and families in need."

The Food Insecurity Grant Program for Independent Restaurants was created by the former Mass Growth Capital Corporation. In February 2025, Mass Growth Capital Corporation merged with MassDevelopment, which now administers the program.

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

12:05PM / Wednesday, December 24, 2025

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.

This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.

The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.

DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.

"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths.

"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."

Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.

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