BERKSHIRE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES
It can be confusing for newcomers to find the organizations and resources that best fit their needs. To help make it easier, Lever has put together a list of Berkshire County economic development organizations.
Resources these organizations offer can be grouped into two broad categories: capital and business development. Capital includes loan financing, grants, and equity funding. Business development resources can include a broad range of assistance, like business planning, workforce training, product prototyping, and networking. Use the chart below to learn more information about a local support organization.
| Organization | Capital | Acceleration/Technical Assistance | Networking | Workforce |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Berkshire | Project grants | Business plan support | Entrepreneur Meetups | |
| Berkshire Agricultural Ventures | Loans and grants | For farms and food businesses | ||
| Berkshire Black Economic Council | Business grants | Business plan support, minority owned business certification | ||
| Berkshire Community College | Nursing and hospitality programs | Student interns | ||
| Berkshire Grown | Loans and grants | Workshops for food producers | ||
| Berkshire Innovation Center | Product prototyping | Topical events | Manufacturing Academy | |
| Berkshire Immigrant Center | Immigrant support resources | |||
| Berkshire Regional Planning Commission | Regional planning support; economic development strategy | data and information services | ||
| CDC of South Berkshires | Small business support | |||
| Lever | Equity investment and grants for startups | Acceleration programs for innovation-based startups | Angel Investor Network | Student interns |
| Mill Town Capital | Grants for social impact, equity investment for businesses | Co-working space | ||
| Mass College of Liberal Arts | Business Bootcamp Program | Career support for students and alums, student interns | ||
| MassHire Berkshires | Help accessing tax credits | Employee, employer, and youth programming | ||
| Mass Small Business Development Center | Business plan development and help accessing loan capital | |||
| Schumacher Center for New Economics | Entry to Entrepreneurship training at Berkshire Community College | |||
| Williams College Entrepreneurship Program | Student business plan development | Student interns |
Berkshire Business Support Organizations
Private Non-profit Organizations
Lever
Mission: Build and grow innovation-driven enterprises. Attract revenues to the region and create jobs. Expand our ecosystem for entrepreneurs, innovators, and young people.
Programming: Challenge competitions for startups with scalable business models; general entrepreneur support; connecting startups with investors; enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in MA through the Massachusetts Founder Network
Contact: Jeffrey Thomas, executive director, jthomas@leverinc.org; Avril Levesque, communications manager, alevesque@leverinc.org
Best fit: Scalable companies in any stage.
Berkshire Innovation Center
Mission: The Berkshire Innovation Center serves as a catalyst to spark innovation and sustainable growth of technology-focused companies. We do this through programs that promote learning and enrich people in technology-led career paths and by providing research and innovation space for people and companies to explore new technologies, all while convening and connecting a community of like-minded people. For more information, visit: BerkshireInnovationCenter.com
Programming: Member company projects and prototyping, video production capabilities, AR/VR equipment, wet lab, technology education and enrichment programs; incubator office space and collaborations
Contact: Ben Sosne, Executive Director, ben@the-bic.org
Best fit: Small to medium sized manufacturing companies (SME’s) in advanced manufacturing, life sciences and the life sciences supply chain
EforAll Berkshires
Mission: Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) is accelerating economic and social impact in communities nationwide through inclusive entrepreneurship.
Programming: One-year business accelerator program, offered twice a year with business training, mentorship and networking. Pitch contests for early-stage entrepreneurs.
Contact: Allison Schmitt, program manager, berkshire-county@eforall.org /
1-833-336-7255 x7209
Best fit: Early-stage entrepreneurs of any kind
1Berkshire
Mission: 1Berkshire is the regional economic development organization of the Berkshires. They provide leadership development, economic development, and promotion of the region as a preferred destination to visit, live, work, and grow a business. It provides programs that connect businesses with each other and potential customers, working to support future leaders and entrepreneurs.
Programming: Entrepreneurial meetups; business retention and expansion services; one-on-one coaching and workshops; grants for specific activities; leadership programs; technical assistance. Many benefits for member businesses.
Contact: Ben Lamb , blamb@1berkshire.com; schedule a meeting here:link
Best fit: Berkshire County businesses at any stage
Berkshire Black Economic Council
Mission: To foster Black businesses and introduce policies to spur economic development in the Berkshires and the Commonwealth.
Programming: Grants; help with attaining minority-owned business certification; help for Black-owned businesses to gain access to business coaching, professional development, grants, and capital
Contact: A.J. Enchill, President and executive director, contact@berkshirebec.org
Best fit: Black and minority-owned businesses
Berkshire Immigrant Center
Mission: The mission of the Berkshire Immigrant Center is to advocate for the rights of all immigrants by helping them navigate the complex U.S. immigration system with affordable legal services, local resources, and education.
Programming: Legal help, assistance with immigration status-related concerns, citizenship assistance, connections to translation and interpretation services
Contact: Office: (413) 445-4881 / info@berkshireic.org
Best fit: Immigrants to the U.S.
Public Non-profit Organizations
MSBDC – Mass Small Business Development Center – Berkshire Regional Office
Mission: The Berkshire Regional Office provides free and confidential business assistance to prospective and existing small businesses. Certified Senior Business Advisors meet with clients for in-person, or phone and video conference sessions. Services are augmented with access to 37 other career professionals across the state including export and government contracting assistance.
Programming: Business plan development, pre-venture feasibility, conventional and non-conventional financing, cash flow analysis, organizational and personnel issues and marketing.
Contact: Jayne Bellora, client services coordinator, jmbellora@msbdc.umass.edu
Best fit: New and existing businesses in Berkshire County
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission
Mission: Berkshire Regional Planning Commission provides leadership and assistance to the County’s municipalities, organizations and citizens in achieving County-wide inter-relationships, prosperity, opportunities, quality of life, strength and vibrancy.
Programming: Economic development and strategy, including economic planning for municipalities; data and information services; general regional planning activities
Contact: Laura Brennan, economic development program manager, (413)442-1521 x14 / lbrennan@berkshireplanning.org
Best fit: Businesses seeking regional or local data (www.berkshirebenchmarks.org) and/or regional economic development information
MassHire Berkshire
Mission: MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board and Career Center develop partnerships, generate resources, and advocate for workforce solutions that result in a skilled workforce, prospering businesses, and equitable access to meaningful career pathways and quality employment for residents and youth.
Programming: Recruitment, retention, and training for EMPLOYERS. Workforce development, education, training, and job search for JOB SEEKERS/CAREER CHANGERS. Career readiness, exploration, and pathway development for YOUTH. Workforce resources, business insights, and labor market information for the TRAINING PROVIDERS/COMMUNITY.
Contact: Melanie Herzig, business services coordinator: (413) 499-2220 Ext. 124 / BusinessTeam@masshireberkshirecc.com or Heather Boulger, executive director Heather@masshireberkshire.com
City of Pittsfield
City of Pittsfield Community Development
Mission: The mission of the Department of Community Development is to enhance the viability of the community as a desirable place in which to live and work through sound urban planning practices; housing, human services and economic development activities that will primarily benefit persons of low and moderate income; and by eliminating conditions of slum and blight.
Programming: Administers business loan programs; tax incentive programs and public works projects funded by the department. The City funds small business loan and technical assistance programs that are offered through the Pittsfield Economic Revitalization Corporation (PERC). Other programs of this division include making loans to commercial property owners to assist with making handicapped accessible improvements to their buildings; implementing “Artscape”, which is a program whose mission is to place sculptures and other works of art in downtown public spaces; and providing funding to various non-profit organizations for capital improvements to their facilities.
Contact: Laura Mick, (413) 499-9378
Best fit: Businesses and entrepreneurs in Pittsfield (or considering relocation)
Pittsfield Economic Revitalization Corporation (PERC)
Mission: PERC’s primary purpose is to further the economic development and social welfare of the City of Pittsfield and Berkshire County to increase employment opportunities and facilitate growth and development of small businesses.
Programming: Direct loans and access to a variety of public loan programs to help businesses that are unable to obtain conventional financing; programs to assist entrepreneurs locating or expanding businesses in Pittsfield and Berkshire County.
Contact: Laura Mick, (413) 499-9378
Best fit: Businesses and entrepreneurs in Pittsfield (or considering relocation)
Academic Institutions
Williams College ‘68 Center for Career Exploration
Mission: Prepare Williams students to explore and pursue their goals through comprehensive, individualized career education.
Programming: College entrepreneurship program; employers can post jobs, internships and projects for students.
Contact: For entrepreneurship program: Tonio Palmer, associate director/director of entrepreneurship, twp1@williams.edu. For employer relations: Scott LaChapelle, associate director of employer relations, srl4@williams.edu
Best fit: Businesses and startups looking for collaborators, internships, recruitment needs
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Mission: MCLA promotes excellence in learning and teaching, innovative scholarship, intellectual creativity, public service, applied knowledge, and active and responsible citizenship.
Programming: Career Center resources for MCLA alumni; internship connections for local/regional businesses; spring Business Bootcamp program run by Business Administration department and held at 1Berkshire offices
Contact:
- Career Center:
- Anthony Napolitano, anthony.napolitano.jr@mcla.edu, (413) 662-5332
- Entrepreneurship: Tara Barboza at tara.barboza@mcla.edu or Amy Shapiro at Amy.Shapiro@mcla.edu
Best fit: MCLA graduates or regional business owners looking to hire interns; early-stage businesses looking for training and resources.
More info:
- Entrepreneurship: https://www.mcla.edu/academics/academic-departments/business-administration/entrepreneurship.php
- Career Center: https://www.mcla.edu/student-services/career-services/index.php
Berkshire Community College Community Education and Workforce Development
Mission: BCC is committed to providing an exceptional education and a wide range of opportunities that meet the diverse needs of our community, and offers a wide range of noncredit learning opportunities for people of all ages. Designed to meet either vocational change to career or recreational goals, its workforce development and community education team members are focused on serving the community.
Programming: Tuition-free programs completed in a year or less for creative making and manufacturing, health and wellness, and food, culture, and the local economy; Associate in Nursing degree as well as other workforce development-oriented degrees and certifications
Contact: workforce@berkshirecc.edu
Chambers of Commerce
North Adams Chamber of Commerce
Mission: The mission of the North Adams Chamber is to explore, define, share and promote the unique story of Northern Berkshire County by connecting individuals, facilitating conversations and leading the development of responsible growth practices.
Programming: Professional guidance and support for new and existing businesses
Contact: Nico Dery, business development director, hello@nachamber.org
Best fit: New or established businesses / sole proprietors in Northern Berkshire County
Williamstown Chamber of Commerce
Mission: The Williamstown Chamber of Commerce is committed to promoting an inclusive and vibrant business community, facilitating learning opportunities, producing events, and engaging with local government to serve our member businesses, residents, and visitors.
Programming: Networking, educational programming
Contact: Susan Briggs, executive director, info@williamstownchamber.com / (413) 458-9077
Best fit: Williamstown businesses and sole proprietors
ProAdams
Mission: Promote and honor the quality and character of Adams; drive growth; create vibrancy
Programming: Business directory; networking events; general townwide events
Contact: Info@ExploreAdams.com / (413) 446-9858
Best fit: Adams businesses and sole proprietor
