CHARLEMONT, Mass. — Federal pandemic funds made available during the Biden administration were critical to ensuring the continuation of Berkshire East, a major employer in the hilltowns.  

 

"Every single one of those programs, whether it was PPP, Employee Retention Tax Credit, played an integral role in Berkshire East, keeping it going," said owner Jon Schaefer. "And it was a panic at times." 

 

U.S. Rep. Richie Neal, standing next to Schaefer in the main lodge at the ski resort on Monday, said he wanted to remind people of the successful interventions like the Paycheck Protection Program and Employee Retention Tax Credit that saved local businesses. The congressman also touted the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, the American Rescue Plan Act and the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

 

"So on an overall basis, consider the way that America rebounded from the pandemic so much better than the rest of the world," said Neal, who was chair of the powerful Ways & Means Committee when these programs were implemented under Democratic leadership.

 

"Really large employers or people at the top of the income strata in America, they were able to hold on what they had. The challenge that we had was getting the cash flow for people who really needed it, and the immediacy of it was essential for the work that we've done."

 

Many of these programs have sunset, but claims on the Retention Tax Credit are ongoing. 

 

The Schaefer family has owned and operated Berkshire East since 1976; they also own Zoar Outdoor, and Catamount Mountain Resort in South Egremont. Jon Schaefer said the company employs close to a thousand full and part-time seasonal people, and about 400 at each ski area during the winter.