Lt. Governor Driscoll Visits Great Barrington Businesses
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll did some holiday shopping on Main Street last week after announcing millions of federal Community Development Block Grant funds.
She was glad to see an array of small-business owners thriving, and the eclectic items that Great Barrington has to offer.
"We know that the vibrancy of communities can often be defined by what's happening on Main Street," she said.
"It's great to be here in Great Barrington and see so many independent entrepreneurs who are running really, not only fun, but businesses that are doing well, and we want to try and find ways to uplift and support that work moving forward."
State Rep. Leigh Davis coordinated a business tour with Pleasant and Main Cafe and General Store, Robbie's Community Market, and Butternut Ski Mountain. While downtown, Driscoll also stopped at Coco's Candy and Rob's Records and Audio.
Earlier that day, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $33.5 million in federal CDBG funds at the Housatonic Community Center. Great Barrington, in conjunction with Egremont and Stockbridge, has been allocated $ 1.25 million to rehabilitate approximately 14 housing units. A new Rural and Small Town Housing Choice Community designation for its Housing Choice Initiative was also launched.
Davis emphasized the significance of the state announcing these dollars in the small village of Housatonic.
Craig Bero, founder of Pleasant and Main, prepared desserts and hors d'oeuvres for the group at his cozy cafe across the street from the Housatonic Community Center. Bero opened more than a decade ago after migrating from New York City, and Pleasant and Main offers sustainable, organic meals for an affordable price while enjoying the museum of antiques that is the restaurant.
He would come to the Berkshires to get wood and produce, and eventually, wanted to do something on a more human level and work with the local community.
"There's never been a delivery truck that's pulled up here. We harvest, we grow our own food. I'm out every morning foraging our mushrooms, our berries, 90 percent of what we do is sustainable and organic, and we just tied it into the community where we started a community supper where, for 15-20 bucks, you come in, you get soup, salad, choice of three main courses, meat, fish or fowl, nice, organic vegetables," Bero said, explaining that this model calls back to his upbringing on a farm in northern Wisconsin.
Massachusetts needs more than 200,000 additional housing units to meet demand, and housing is expensive to build. Driscoll said communities are stronger when younger and older adults can afford to stay there.
"That's for us a key goal right now," she said.
"So many people, young adults, in particular, are migrating out of the state because they can't find the housing they need or housing that's affordable, and so building more housing, we think, can really help ensure we keep people here. We allow people to age in place and continue to support strong community vibrancy and a high quality of life."
Shopping local supports the individuals who give to Little League, give teenagers their first jobs, and who lean in when there is a need in the community, the lieutenant governor pointed out, "So having the housing we need to support the local talent and keep people here, it becomes a perpetual cycle, supporting the local economy, supporting jobs, and creating that vibrancy."
She recognized that it is difficult being a small business owner, and said Great Barrington is working hard to drive a strong local economy that then supports a vibrant commonwealth.
Correction: The identification for Coco's Candy store and its owner was incorrect in the initial version of this article. Elise Contarsy purchased the former Robin's Candy in June. iBerkshires regrets the error.
Tags: driscoll, small business, state officials,
