PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Greylock Federal Credit Union surpassed the 70,000 mark in April when it welcomed 18-year-old Andrew Bravo as a new member. Only 3 percent of the nation's credit unions have reached that number.

Since the Berkshires' population is only 131,000, the credit union can now claim more than half the county's residents as members.

Bravo, a recent graduate from Lenox Memorial and the school's valedictorian, opened his accounts at Greylock's historic Lee branch on 47 Main St. and got a $1,000 check toward his education.

"When we realized that our 70,000th member was a college-bound senior, we felt this $1,000 award was an appropriate way to mark the occasion," said Senior Vice President Pete Mirante.

Mirante said Bravo joined the credit union during Youth Week. "We had an excellent response to our promotions during that week, adding more than 60 members and opening more than 100 accounts."

Executive Vice President John Bissell said there are 7,442 credit unions in the United States and only 229 have reached the 70,000 mark in terms of membership, according to Callahan & Associates, a credit union consulting service.

"We appreciate the strong support of our membership in every area of Berkshire County," Bissell said, noting the credit union has had steady membership growth despite being confined to the county.

"We have built a billion-dollar institution one membership at a time," he continued. "The loyalty of our member/owners and their willingness to refer friends and family to the credit union is the key to our continued growth even as Berkshire County's population holds steady or declines. We thank each and every one of our members for helping us reach this milestone."

Networking events, workshops and seminars for the month of July are listed below. Got an upcoming business event? Send it to info@iberkshires.com.

The Consulting Alliance will hold a lunch meeting on Friday, July 8, from 11:30 to 2 at Wolferts Roost Country Club, 120 Van Rensselaer Blvd., Menands, N.Y. The meeting program "Speed Networking for New Connections" features Peter Coombs, principal of FRONTLINE Training. Coombs will lead a speed-networking exercise during which participants will meet and present themselves to one another in order to expand business connections.

The cost is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers; guests and prospective members are invited to attend. Reservations are required and can be made to 518-434-0489 or info@consultingalliance.org.

The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce is holding a Business After Hours event on Thursday, July 14, at Great Barrington Bagel Co., 777 S. Main St., Great Barrington, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. RSVP to sbcc@rnetworx.com or 413-528-1510.

Berkshire Young Professionals will have its next networking social at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, 1000 Main St. (Route 2), Williamstown, on Thursday, July 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. Admission is free for BYP cardholders and $5 for others. Register here.

On Wednesday, July 20, the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will hold a "Chamber Nite" event, sponsored by The Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the newly opened Balance Rock Investment Group, 92 Elm St., Pittsfield. Complimentary hors d'oevres will be served. Bring business cards to enter into the door prize drawing. Registration is open to members only; register here.

Networking events, workshops and seminars for the month of June are listed below. Got an upcoming business event? Send it to info@iberkshires.com.

The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will hold a breakfast on Friday, June 3, from 7:45 to 9:15 a.m. at the Comfort Inn, Stockbridge Road. The meeting will celebrate Great Barrington's 250th anniversary; special guests include Great Barrington Board of Selectmen and 250th Committee Co-chairs Ed McCormick and Betsy Andrus, state Sen. Ben Downing. Register at 413-528-4284 or sbcc@rnetworx.com. Admission is $25 per person.

Berkshire Young Professionals will throw a networking social on Thursday, June 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hancock Shaker Village, Route 20, Pittsfield. Admission is $5 for nonmembers, free for members. Register here.

The Lenox Chamber of Commerce will hold an after hours mixer on Thursday, June 9, at Dr. Lahey's Garden Center, 1032 South St., Pittsfield. The event begins at 6 p.m. and includes light seasonal fare and a cash bar. RSVP to 413-637-3646 or info@lenox.org.

The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will hold an after hours event on Thursday, June 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Gould Farm's Roadside Cafe, 100 Gould Road, Montery. RSVP to 413-528-1510 or sbcc@rnetworx.com.

The Zonta Club of Berkshire County will meet on Monday, June 13 at 5 p.m. at Patrick's Pub, Park Square, Pittsfield. The meeting will include the installation of new officers; the guest speaker will be this year's winner of the Berkshire Community College Scholarship. The meeting includes a brief networking time, business meeting, speaker and dinner. Reservations required for dinner. Email berkshire@zontadistrict1.org for more information.

The Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will hold a Chamber Nite event on Wednesday, June 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Devanny-Condron Funeral Home, 40 Maplewood Ave., Pittsfield. Complimentary hors d'ouevres will be served; bring business cards for a door-prize drawing. Open to chamber members only; register here.

The Berkshire Chamber of Commerce puts on a Good News Business Salute on Wednesday, June 22, from 7:45 to 9 a.m. at the Berkshire Hills Country Club, 500 Benedict Road, Pittsfield. Admission is $25 for chamber members, $35 for nonmembers. Registration is open until June 21; register here.

Northern Berkshire Professional Women will meet at the Williams Inn, Williamstown, on Wednesday, June 22, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will have a baby shower theme; items brought to the meeting will be donated to a local charity. The cost of dinner is $25; for meal choice and to make a reservation, contact Sherrie Thompson at 413-458-1914.

Berkshire Creative will hold a Spark! networking event on Thursday, June 30, at the town of Adams Armory Court and Topia Arts Center, Adams. The free event runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; RSVP here.

BOSTON — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported today that the total unemployment rate in April was 7.8 percent, down 0.2 of a percentage point from the 8.0 percent March rate. The preliminary April job estimates show 3,228,000 jobs in Massachusetts, an increase of 19,500 jobs. The private sector added 20,500 jobs.

Job gains occurred in Leisure and Hospitality; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities; Education and Health Services; Manufacturing; Professional, Scientific, and Business Services; Financial Activities; Construction; Information; and Mining and Logging. Government and Other Services lost jobs. The April job gain follows a revised 1,300 jobs loss in March, previously reported as a 3,200 job gain. Over-the-year, jobs are up 40,800 (+1.3 percent) with private sector jobs up 47,200 (+1.7 percent). Since January 2011, 34,200 jobs have been added in the Commonwealth.

The Massachusetts unemployment rate remains below the national rate, which is 9.0 percent. In April, the number of Massachusetts residents employed grew and those unemployed decreased resulting in a decline in the unemployment rate. Trends for the labor force, unemployed residents, employed residents, the unemployment rate and jobs continue to indicate improvement for the Commonwealth's economy.

Judy Giamborino, Kim Burnham and Rebecca Gold.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The town is getting two new real estate offices, both of which happened to schedule their open houses at almost the same time on Thursday evening, May 12.

The newest venture is among business partners Kim Burnham and Rebecca Gold, along with Judy Giamborino, who said they are excited to announce their new business Burnham Gold Real Estate. All three had been involved with Williamstown Realty,  which closed after principal Michael J. Zeppieri decided to pursue a venture on Cape Cod and put the Water Street building up for sale in March.

Now located at 191 Water St., the three women will focus on representing clients in buying and selling homes, as well as assisting customers within the academic and summer rental market. 

All are longtime residents of Williamstown and are familiar with the area and all that it has to offer. With a combined 60-plus years of experience, they said they are looking forward to utilizing their skills and knowledge to cover all aspects and demographics of the real estate market.

Hours of operation are 10 to 5 Monday through Friday, and Saturdays 10 to 1. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held Thursday, May 12, from 4:30 to 7.

Also on Thursday, well-established Steepleview Realty, around the corner at 63 Spring St., will hold a reception for opening its new office in Williamstown. The agency, owned by Berkshire native Jennifer G. Segala, has offices on Park Street in Adams and Main Street in North Adams. The reception will be from 4 to 7.